Huge blow to our family budget. Our kids are the ones that miss out with the financial strains it places on us. The way that it's managed is highly stressful for families that are already under a lot of stress.
If anyone else in Australia was running a business or providing a service to customers the way that Centrelink are at present, it would not be acceptable or ethical practice in the Government's eyes. Therefore, why is is ok that the Government are allowed to provide a service that is not open and clear with people about how to work out their payments, what they are entitled to, make it difficult to access support to do this and then also give no explanation on how they worked out that you have a debt? Then they expect your large debt to be repaid within a month or look out!! It is also not ok that they don't provide a clear pathway for appealing your debt or a friendly person to explain the situation to you. This current Government boasts that it supports families and gives tax cuts to families, encourages mothers to get back in the work force and then with the same hand takes back all these supposed benefits, threatens you with a debt that you don't understand and expects you to trust them in the future! The way that this is running needs to reviewed immediately and better systems need to be put into place. Maybe starting to listen to consumer feedback could be a good starting point & put the people back into the places they need to be to provide a ethical service to the people of Australia.