The Greens are backing strike actions by Services Australia staff today, saying Labor must act to fix the social security system for both workers and people on Centrelink.
Senator Janet Rice, Greens spokesperson for social services, said:
“Services Australia staff are tired of being a scapegoat for the failings of the government and decades of failed social security initiatives by both Labor and the Liberals. Solidarity with the workers striking today.
“Overwhelmingly, Services Australia staff want to help but the current systems and processes, especially the long reach of private employment providers, often render them powerless to assist, and leave welfare recipients in dire situations.
“Those on income support are in need of urgent help. In just the last week, I’ve seen a woman in huge financial stress try to fix a Jobseeker payment issue, only to call over 100 times and not get through, and another person be directed to an AI bot after having their payments suspended, who hung up on them after not providing any clear information. This is the product of a broken system and it’s up to Labor to fix it.
“Services Australia staff have worked through year after year of disaster and pandemic responses – with all forecasts showing worse to come this summer. These emergencies were once irregular events that staff could be temporarily assigned to. Now they are business as usual for staff, even if the agency and government doesn’t want to admit it. Yet staff numbers have declined despite this increased workload, while processing and other “regular” customer service tasks continue to fall behind.
“Workers are tired of being overworked and unpaid, and people on Centrelink are tired of the system completely failing them.
“The fight for a pay rise for public servants and Services Australia workers is the same fight for an increase to welfare. In both cases, Labor are choosing tax cuts for the rich over delivering for workers and those that can’t work.
“We need a strong and working social security system for everyone. That includes better pay and conditions for staff, and payments lifted above the poverty line and mutual obligations abolished for Centrelink recipients.”
Senator Barbara Pocock, Greens spokesperson for the public sector, said:
“The Australian Public Service has faced a decade of pay cuts, paving the way for the rise of outsourcing public sector work to the Big Four.
“The Labor Government made a commitment to become a model employer and rebuild the APS – that starts with a big lift in the pay and conditions of the public sector. We are playing big time catch up here. We need to attract the best and the brightest as well as the most fearless and principled into our public sector, to protect the public interest.
The government’s current pay offer for the APS is inadequate. It isn’t even keeping up with the cost-of-living increase.
“A good pay rise and improved conditions is the only way we will be able to undo the hollowing out of the public service by the Big Four consulting firms.
“The government has the resources to give public servants a real pay rise beyond inflation. Labor have made their priorities clear; they have $313 billion for the stage 3 tax cuts for the rich, but very little for hard-working public servants and the essential services that they deliver.
“Services Australia staff do valuable work, supporting some of the most vulnerable Australians. They deserve a real pay rise and I support their campaign for better conditions. Serving our public interests depends on it