Siba Dube
Labour legislator, Alicia Payne is not relenting on her fight to keep Centerlink offices open in Braddon.
Payne today led members of the community in a protest in Braddon against the eminent relocation of the Centrelink whose lease is expiring in February 2022. The space occupied by Centrelink offices in Braddon has already been put on the market for rent.
Payne accused the government of being insensitive to the plight of the vulnerable who she said were already inconvenienced by COVID-19 restrictions.
“The Morrison Government is on an ideological crusade against anyone who receives social security and the system itself. Undermining access to Centrelink services is part of this. They also don’t care about Canberra or see it as a community that needs government services,” said Payne.
The MP maintained that the face to face services must not be moved away from the people.
“Today I gathered with members of the community outside Braddon Centrelink to spread the word that the Government is considering the future of the Service Centre for which the lease ends in February 2022. We are saying loud and clear – face-to-face services are vital and we need them here in central Canberra,” said Payne.
Payne told Canberra Live that she shall be presenting a petition to parliament in August upon the resumption of sitting.
CanberraLive emailed a set of questions to Minister of National Disability Insurance Linda Reynolds, who is responsible for Centrelink services and her office promised to provide the responses soon.
The petition to Save Braddon Centrelink has been signed by almost 600 people: https://aliciapayne.com.au/save-braddon-centrelink/
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