News by Anthony Keane
Premium Content  Australians who owe billions of dollars to Centrelink are being asked to restart their debt repayments. Centrelink s COVID-related national debt pause is now over, and Services Australia says from today it is contacting people who have been overpaid, after freezing 1.3 million debts totalling $4.5 billion last year. Services Australia general manager Hank Jongen said people could expect to receive a letter in the mail or via myGov. From the start of February we ll begin contacting people who owe money to let them know why they have been overpaid, the amount of the overpayment and their due date for repayments to commence, he said.
News by Anthony Keane
Premium Content  Australians who owe billions of dollars to Centrelink are being asked to restart their debt repayments. Centrelink s COVID-related national debt pause is now over, and Services Australia says from today it is contacting people who have been overpaid, after freezing 1.3 million debts totalling $4.5 billion last year. Services Australia general manager Hank Jongen said people could expect to receive a letter in the mail or via myGov. From the start of February we ll begin contacting people who owe money to let them know why they have been overpaid, the amount of the overpayment and their due date for repayments to commence, he said.
“If a client requests that we do not attend, we would respect that request,” she said.
“We are aware of how this aspect of the matter was managed. We are satisfied that it was handled properly and appropriately.”
A Department of Social Services spokesperson told Guardian Australia it would investigate the incident.
“DES providers are required to deliver services at locations outlined in their Grant Agreement, unless agreed to by the department,” the spokesperson said.
“Delivery of services outside of these locations, including participants’ private residences, is strictly not permitted.
“The department takes all allegations seriously and Multiple Solutions will be required to explain its alleged contact with the complainant. Following the investigation, the Department will consider options for further action, if required.”
The Morrison Government s program of class warfare australianherald.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from australianherald.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
THE cashless welfare card program would cause “significant hardship” if rolled out nationwide, Dunkley MP Peta Murphy says.
The program sees 80 per cent of welfare payments made to an individual put onto a card, where it cannot be used on alcohol or gambling products.
The government is trialling the card in four communities – Ceduna, SA, Bundaberg and Harvey Bay, QLD, Goldfields, WA, and East Kimberley, WA. It moved last week to make the trials permanent in those locations, but could not gain the support it needed in Parliament. The trial has instead been extended for two years.
Ms Murphy said that any rollout of the card in Frankston would not be accepted by residents. “My community doesn’t want the cashless debit card and neither do I,” she said.