Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the chamber. The government acknowledges the critical importance of continuing to improve the delivery of health and welfare payments and services to Australians. That is why nearly 1,500 staff are being recruited to front-line roles in the Department of Human Services. The coalition government is also implementing its transformative Welfare Payment Infrastructure Transformation Program and has already invested just over $60 million in the first tranche of work. According to the ANAO, over 1,100 telephony staff were cut between 2009-10 and 2013-14. We are committed to undoing these cuts, which led to call wait times increasing from three minutes and five seconds in 2010-11 to 11 minutes and 45 seconds in 2011-12. Australians want modern, up-to-date services that connect them when they need it, and that is exactly what this government will deliver.

Question agreed to.