MEDIA RELEASE - LABOR’S PAYMENT DELAYS A KICK IN THE TEETH FOR HIGGINS RESIDENTS

PAUL FLETCHER MP

Shadow Minister for Science and the Arts

Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy

Manager of Opposition Business in the House

MEDIA RELEASE

22 April 2024

LABOR’S PAYMENT DELAYS A KICK IN THE TEETH FOR HIGGINS RESIDENTS

Residents in the electorate of Higgins are being let down by the Albanese Labor Government’s mismanagement of Services Australia during a cost of living crisis, internal data from the massive welfare agency shows.

Data obtained by the Opposition in Senate Estimates reveals that residents across Higgins are waiting upwards of 80 days to have their claims processed for a variety of key payments.

In February, Services Australia sensationally revealed that it was presiding over a massive backlog of around 1.1 million unprocessed new claims. 

Visiting the Windsor Service Centre in Prahan, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy, Paul Fletcher, and Liberal candidate for Higgins, Katie Allen, said the federal government’s mismanagement of Services Australia was making the cost of living crisis worse.

“In the middle of a cost of living crisis, it is unacceptable that Government Services Ministers Bill Shorten and Dr Michelle Ananda-Rajah MP are making it harder for residents to access vital support,” Mr Fletcher said.

“By contrast, Katie Allen has been listening to the concerns of locals in Higgins and working with me to find solutions to this Labor mess, including by supporting the Opposition’s consistent call for there to be a root and branch review of Services Australia’s operations.”

Katie Allen said vulnerable residents were suffering because of the delays.

“These wait times are a kick in the teeth for residents in Higgins who are already struggling under Labor’s cost of living crisis,” Dr Allen said.

“It’s very concerning that older Australians and families transitioning between work and child care are having to wait for more than two months to receive some form of support.

“Residents have been telling me that these unacceptable delays are heaping unnecessary stress and anxiety on them.

“I will continue to advocate strongly on behalf of our community to ensure Labor doesn’t leave Higgins behind.”

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