Rudd Government deserts Kempsey by cutting front line services at Kempsey Centrelink

September 3, 2009

The Rudd Government was deserting the Kempsey community by cutting front line services at Kempsey’s Centrelink office, Federal MP Luke Hartsuyker said today.

 

Two full time positions at the Kempsey office have been relocated to Port Macquarie, as the Rudd Government downgrade services in the Macleay.

 

Mr Hartsuyker said the decision to cut services had been made by the regional office in Newcastle under instruction from Canberra.

 

“Once again we see the Rudd Government’s faceless Canberra bureaucrats sitting in their ivory towers and ripping resources from disadvantaged regional areas.

 

“This top down approach fails to take into account the needs of local regional communities and it ignores the importance of adequately resourcing regional offices so they can meet community demand.”

 

Mr Hartsuyker said it was astounding the Rudd Government would cut staff from Kempsey Centrelink, with unemployment in the region continuing to rise.

 

“Under the Rudd Government the number of unemployed people in the Kempsey area has risen by more than 11 per cent since November 2007,” Mr Hartsuyker said.

 

“There are also more pensioners and retirees moving to the region and they need face to face support at their local Centrelink office.

 

“As more residents lose their jobs under the Rudd Government the demand on Centrelink staff will continue to rise. The real concern here is that just as State Labor has downgraded services at Kempsey Hospital, Federal Labor intends to do the same at Kempsey Centrelink.

 

“I understand that two staff have already been removed from front line services in Kempsey and relocated to Port Macquarie. That represents a cut of more than 10 per cent to front line staff and places more stress on the remaining workforce.

 

“I have written to the Minister for Human Services Chris Bowen about this matter, calling for him to review this decision.  It is simply unacceptable to make Kempsey pay the price because the Rudd Government does not understand the needs of the community and the demands on local Centrelink staff.”

< Prev		Next >