Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I can say that the local liaison officer program was one of those that the opposition put in when they were in government. It did not address the concerns and issues that were raised in local constituencies. We ensured that the local liaison officer program was not continued. Why? Because it was not actually delivering. A much better system to put in place is one where, if you have an issue in your constituency, you can go to your local electorate office and deal with it. We have good relations with each of those electorate offices. When issues are raised that people want brought forward then those specific agencies, like Centrelink or Medicare, can talk through and have contact with the electorate offices and deal with them in a sensible way. That is a far more practical way than having a local liaison officer program in place. Centrelink has been working through each of those offices. Of course, agencies across the Human Services portfolio deal with not only local constituents that are referred to from electorate offices but also a significant amount of correspondence from those electorate offices. I can assure the Senate and you, Mr President, that correspondence—which I see personally—comes to me from the electoral offices of those opposite and of those of us on this side of the chamber through all of the agencies across the Human Services portfolio: Medicare, Centrelink, the Child Support Agency, Health Services Australia and Australian Hearing. This indicates that they are engaging with the constituents about issues. We are dealing with those issues that arise. We deal with them directly in a practical way. (Time expired)