Andrew Wilkie (Denison, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, a whistleblower tells me that from 1 July Centrelink will stop backdating payments to the intention-to-claim date. This is unacceptable, because people needing Centrelink can initially be in crisis and unable to lodge the paperwork immediately—for example, women fleeing domestic violence—and, when they do, the process can be convoluted, with delays commonplace. This change would also appear to be illegal, because section 13 of the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 clearly intends that a person is taken to have made a claim when they first contact Centrelink. Prime Minister, will you stop this unfair, unlawful and sneaky attack on the most vulnerable members of our community?

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