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Centrelink staff to strike amid debt-recovery controversy

One JobKeeper recipients was left confused after being made to sign a job plan meant for JobSeekers.

One JobKeeper recipients was left confused after being made to sign a job plan meant for JobSeekers. Photo: AAP

Centrelink staff will launch two weeks of rolling industrial action from February 13 in response to the Government’s controversial debt-recovery scheme.

The ABC understands the strike action is expected to result in delays at Centrelink offices and call centres across Australia, but those working on robot-debt calls will be exempt.

The industrial action coincides with calls from the Greens and Labor to establish a Senate inquiry into the controversial scheme, which has incorrectly told thousands of Australians they need to repay money.

The automated program, which cross-references employment data from the Australian Tax Office and Centrelink, has been criticised by social services groups for placing profits above people.

The program has issued nearly 170,000 notices of potential overpayment since July when human oversight was reduced in a bid to save money.

Centrelink staff who join the industrial action will also provide welfare recipients with a written statement outlining their concerns about the program and the Government’s bargaining position.

In some cases, welfare recipients have been forced to start repaying fortnight instalments to Centrelink despite continuing to contest their records.

CPSU raised concern about treatment of Centrelink workers

The strike action will be led by the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), which has overseen years of industrial action across the public service amid a two-year deadlock on pay and conditions.

Similar strike action was launched by the union in December although customer payments were not impacted.

centrelink aap

Centrelink was sending thousands of letters a day demanding repayment.

The Department of Human Services, which manages the Centrelink and Medicare programs, was informed of the strike action on Friday.

The CPSU and some federal politicians have raised concerns about the treatment of Centrelink workers since December, with the public becoming increasingly frustrated.

CPSU assistant national secretary Michael Tull said in January that public servants were facing a “perfect storm” and struggling to deal with public backlash.

Centrelink has also approached the market for “advanced customer aggression training” to deal with the public criticisms over the program.

The Government introduced changes to the debt-recovery system in January to ensure welfare recipients can launch an internal review of their payments before debt proceedings are launched.

The strikes be held on February 13, 15, 17, 20, 22 and 24. The Department of Human Services has been contacted for comment.

– ABC

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