MEDIA RELEASE - SHORTEN’S SHORT BY 95 PER CENT ON RECOMMENDED MYGOV INVESTMENT

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

13 December 2023

SHORTEN’S SHORT BY 95 PER CENT ON RECOMMENDED MYGOV INVESTMENT

Nearly a year ago, Bill Shorten received the recommendations from his much hyped MyGov User Audit.

Now, halfway through this government’s term, he has formally announced a response.

The audit recommended annual recurrent funding of $138 million.

Mr Shorten in MYEFO has secured just $11.3 million over two years. At $5.65 million a year, that’s 95 per cent less than the audit recommended.

Shadow Minister for Government Services Paul Fletcher said digital service delivery continued to be an afterthought for Labor.

“In January this year, Government Services Minister Bill Shorten was handed an independent audit of MyGov which recommended he respond by 1 July 2023 with an implementation plan and that he provide funding similar to what the Coalition Government delivered – to date, he has failed to do both,” Mr Fletcher said.

“Time and time again, Mr Shorten talks a big game about improving digital service delivery but he consistently fails to deliver.

“For example, in February this year Mr Shorten said he wanted digital credential sharing between the Commonwealth and NSW Government to be in place by ‘quarter three’ this year, but the Opposition obtained FOI documents which revealed that work on this project was on ice.

“And it’s not just in the digital space that Bill Shorten has been letting down Australians.

“Call and claims processing wait times are through the roof.

“As at August 2023, it was taking Services Australia 98 days on average to process a Child Care Subsidy related claim, while Australians were waiting on the phone for over 53 minutes on average to speak with someone when calling Centrelink’s Employment Services Line.

“Mr Shorten needs to knuckle down, dust off the MyGov User Audit, and get to work on improving outcomes for customers.

“He should start by launching a root and branch review into the embattled agency, as the Opposition has consistently called for.”

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