Peta Murphy (Dunkley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Following the exposure of Minister Robert 's secret decision to shut down the Mornington Medicare and Centrelink office, the Mornington Community Information and Support Centre organised a petition to get this decision overturned . More than 2,600 locals have signed it, a nd I'm here today to presen t it.

According to local community groups, about 800 people a week access that Centrelink and Medicare centre. The decision to close it, under pressure, led to an announcement by Minister Hunt that there would be a replacement service, a permanent ' continuation of Medicare and Centrelink services in Mornington ' of 15 hours a week . We now have information from Services Australia that says it is a three -month contract—t hat's not a permanent service —a nd the 15 hours a week is outsourced. There are nine FTE front - of - house positions at the moment , to be replaced by one part-time outsourced person to help people get on to the computer. An elderly woman waited three hours last week at Mornington Centrelink; what's going to happen to her? What's going to happen to people in my community that go to Frankston Centrelink, which is already overwhelmed and which is going to be further overwh elmed to take up the slack? It' s not good enough . I present the petition.

The SPEAKER: The document will be forwarded to the Standing Committee on Petitions for its consideration. It will be accepted subject to confirmation by the committee that it conforms to the standing orders. In accordance with standing order 43, the time for members' statements has concluded.

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