Anglicare Australia is joining calls to suspend Centrelink penalties, following damning findings from a new review of the Targeted Compliance Framework.
The Deloitte review, commissioned by the Government, has found that the system is unlawful or unsafe. It found that payment suspensions are being issued automatically, without human oversight or adequate safeguards – confirming long-standing and continuing concerns about Centrelink’s automation agenda.
“This review confirms what people on Centrelink payments have been telling us for years. The Targeted Compliance Framework is hurting the people it’s meant to help,” said Anglicare Australia Executive Director Kasy Chambers.
“We’ve heard from people who have had their payments cut off with no warning, for missing appointments they weren’t even told about. Others were penalised due to system errors or failures beyond their control.”
Anglicare Australia’s research, including Paying the Price of Welfare Reform and Asking Those Who Know, has found that automated systems drive up stress and hardship, while offering little support to help people into work. People are being pushed into confusion, debt, and despair, all for rules that even Centrelink staff can’t explain.
“These systems are supposed to support people. But instead, they’re punishing people for being out of work – and then punishing them again when the systems fail,” Ms Chambers said.
“Two-thirds of workers in our services said these compliance systems were making people more anxious, and that they were spending huge amounts of time helping people deal with pointless penalties. That is time that should be spent helping people prepare for work, not fixing system mistakes.”
Ms Chambers said the Government must take immediate action to end the harm.
“Let’s be clear – these suspensions are not helping people into work. The Government’s own review cannot guarantee that the system is even operating lawfully.
“We are calling on the Government to show leadership and stop the payment suspensions now. People cannot be punished under a system that doesn’t work and cannot be trusted.
“It’s time to shift the focus from punishment to support. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity – and that must start by stopping this system from causing more harm.”