Member for Wannon, Dan Tehan MP, is demanding the Albanese Labor Government be transparent and reveal how long Australians have to wait to receive government payments across the Wannon community, including Centrelink and Medicare claims, during this cost-of-living crisis.
In June, Coalition MPs and Senators asked Government Services Minister Bill Shorten how long Australians had to wait to receive these government payments.
Mr Shorten responded to the questions by saying, “Services Australia does not collate or record data by electorate.”
However, Questions in Writing obtained by the Opposition for the previous Parliament reveal that Services Australia does, in fact, use electorate-level data and that this data was provided to Labor MPs when the Coalition was in government.
Mr Tehan said the move to block the release of the Medicare and Centrelink data didn’t pass the pub test.
“The Albanese Labor Government’s decision to not be upfront with locals is a kick in the teeth for our community who are grappling with the cost-of-living crisis,” Mr Tehan said.
“I’m calling on Government Services Minister Bill Shorten to release this data so that it can be used to inform better policymaking.
“Every community is different, and Labor must come clean on how long it takes residents in Wannon to receive a government payment or service.”
Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy Paul Fletcher said Mr Shorten is a serial offender when it comes to trying to avoid accountability.
“Under Mr Shorten, every question ever asked of him during Senate Estimates has been answered past the due date,” Mr Fletcher said.
“In May this year, the Speaker had to formally write to the Minister because formal Questions in Writing were left unanswered for more than 60 days.
“It has also been revealed that Centrelink call wait times have skyrocketed under his watch.”
