JOINT MEDIA RELEASE - LONGMAN CENTRELINK AND MEDICARE ROUNDTABLE PUTS BILL SHORTEN ON NOTICE

THE HON PAUL FLETCHER MP

Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy

Shadow Minister for Science and the Arts

Manager of Opposition Business in the House

TERRY YOUNG MP 
Member for Longman

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE

 12 June 2024

LONGMAN CENTRELINK AND MEDICARE ROUNDTABLE PUTS BILL SHORTEN ON NOTICE

Residents in Longman have told the Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy Paul Fletcher about how they’re being let down by Services Australia and the responsible Minister, Bill Shorten.

Mr Fletcher yesterday joined the federal Member for Longman Terry Young MP in Caboolture for the Longman Centrelink and Medicare Roundtable, meeting with residents to hear their feedback about Services Australia under Labor.

Data obtained by the Opposition from Senate Estimates shows residents continue to wait for months at a time to receive vital government payments and services. 

The below table shows the average days taken by Services Australia to process a Centrelink claim for a resident in the local government area of Moreton Bay, within the federal electorate of Longman, from 1 January 2024 to 1 May 2024.

Shadow Minister Paul Fletcher said Bill Shorten’s priorities are all wrong.

“We’ve learned through Senate Estimates that Bill Shorten has a personal speechwriter on a $620,000 contract,” Mr Fletcher said. 

“While Mr Shorten is focused on spin, residents in Longman are waiting on average 107 days to receive a Disability Support Pension. That’s unacceptable.”

Mr Young said: “At yesterday’s roundtable, Longman residents told me they’ve been waiting for months on end to receive vital Centrelink and Medicare payments.

“This is a kick in the guts in the middle of a cost of living crisis.

“It’s very disappointing that the government is trying to play political games instead of focusing on fixing this mess.

“I’ll continue to fight on locally and in Canberra to make sure the Albanese Labor Government know that their bad decisions are hurting people in Longman.”

The Opposition has called on the Government to undertake a root and branch review of Services Australia.

Media contact: William Sparling | 0416 628 276 | [email protected]