MEDIA RELEASE - SHORTEN SHIRKS SENATE’S SERVICES SCRUTINY

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

29 February 2024

SHORTEN SHIRKS SENATE’S SERVICES SCRUTINY
 

Government Services Minister Bill Shorten has failed to provide the Senate with crucial Services Australia data he was ordered to provide by 3pm today.

The Senate issued an order for production of documents, moved by Opposition Senators, requesting the following agency data about payment processing times:

• The social security and welfare average days to process from 1 January 2024 to 25 February 2024.
• The health work average days to process from 1 January 2024 to 25 February 2024.

Shadow Minister for Government Services Paul Fletcher said Bill Shorten’s failure to comply with the simple request is reflective of his disregard for parliamentary scrutiny and transparency.

“Bill Shorten is doing a terrible job at Services Australia: call wait times are through the roof, payment processing times have blown out, and there are about 1.1 million claims yet to be processed,” Mr Fletcher said.

“It is no surprise he is trying to avoid scrutiny.

“But the Australian people are entitled to know the truth.

“Bill Shorten must lift his game and provide the documents the Senate has demanded.”

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