MEDIA RELEASE - LABOR STAYS SILENT ON MYGOV USER AUDIT

The Albanese Labor Government must explain why it has failed to respond to the myGov User Audit and its ten recommendations, despite being asked to do so by 1 July 2023.

Shadow Minister for Government Services Paul Fletcher said the delay in responding reflects Labor’s lack of interest in efficient service delivery and their lack of interest in making life easier for Australians.

“myGov is the front door for government services, with Australians making up to 1.4 million transactions on the platform each day, but enhancements must be made to improve the customer experience,” Mr Fletcher said.

“Despite the audit declaring myGov as indispensable national digital infrastructure, it only received a single year of funding in the recent Budget.

“myGov should be a one-stop-shop for accessing services and payments, which is particularly important during this cost of living crisis, but to achieve that it needs proper investment and attention from the government.

“Unfortunately, Government Services Minister Bill Shorten has put improving myGov on the back burner.”

According to the audit, independent economic analysis commissioned by Services Australia estimated that completing the program over four years would deliver net benefits of $3.2 billion over ten years.

It also praised the Coalition’s previous $200 million investment in myGov, which was part of the Coalition Government’s Digital Economy Strategy.

Mr Fletcher said Labor’s slowness is becoming a pattern, with their inability to respond to Questions on Notice on time and reducing the number of questions allowed to be asked by the Opposition, recently exposed.

“Mr Shorten is responsible for one of the country’s largest government agencies, Services Australia, that each year administers hundreds of billions of dollars of vital social security payments, including to some of our most vulnerable Australians,” Mr Fletcher said.

“It is remarkable that during this cost-of-living crisis, Mr Shorten is more focused on playing political games and shutting down legitimate questions.”

ENDS

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