Bridget McKenzie must apologise to 1400 public servants in Albury-Wodonga
The union for public sector workers has called on Wodonga-based Victorian Senator Bridget McKenzie to apologise to the 1400 public sector workers around Albury-Wodonga for her comments on ABC television yesterday regarding public sector job cuts.
On the ABC’s Afternoon Briefing program yesterday, Senator McKenzie when asked about Peter Dutton’s plan to cut 41,000 public sector jobs said:
“I can’t think of one arm of government where the numbers have gone up in terms of service delivery and the outcomes have gotten better… on any level I can’t find it.”
There are approximately 1400 public sector jobs in the Albury-Wodonga region, in Services Australia, the ATO, Department of Veterans Affairs, NDIA, ATO, AEC, Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry, Department of Defence, the Murray Darling Basin Authority, Defence Housing Australia and the Federal Court.
Since the investment in additional jobs in the public sector by the Government, the backlog of 42,000 claims in the Department of Veterans Affairs has been cleared and claims processing and wait times across all services have drastically reduced.
Claims processing times are down in the following services:
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Aged Pension claims - 62 per cent
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Paid Parental Leave claims - 90 per cent
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Family Tax Benefit applications - 89 per cent
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PBS Safety Net processing - 99 per cent
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Medicare Eligibility and Enrolments - 84 per cent
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Medicare patient claims - 71 per cent
Quotes attributable to Melissa Donnelly, CPSU National Secretary:
“Senator McKenzie has shown contempt for the public servants in Albury-Wodonga who have helped deliver a massive improvement in vital services that communities rely on.
“Senator McKenzie has become the chief champion for Peter Dutton’s plans to cut 41,000 public sector jobs.
“Peter Dutton’s plans would see a return to unacceptable claims processing times for aged pension, Medicare, Veterans Affairs and prescriptions claims.
“These cuts will not only take jobs out of the Albury-Wodonga region but will impact the delivery of vital services to the local community like the aged pension, Medicare, Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, and the NDIA.
“Senator McKenzie should apologise to the hardworking public servants in her region and explain to them why she is cheering on Peter Dutton’s job cuts.
Extract, ABC Afternoon Briefing, 2 April 2025
Bridget McKenzie: Everyday taxpayers are paying for more public servants employed and less public service being actually given in terms of outcomes in our communities.
If you have put on additional staff in the three years you’ve been in government and there haven’t been improvements in service delivery then I think you legitimately have to ask the question on behalf of Australian taxpayers: what is the benefit?
Patricia Karvelas: So you think you can remove staff and get better results for the public?
Bridget McKenzie: The question we legitimately are asking.. Is if you are going to put on tens of thousands of public servants then there must be some benefit to the public in terms of better running of services... We need to see better outcomes from those public service jobs being provided and we haven’t seen it, Patricia. I can’t think of one arm of government where the numbers have gone up in terms of service delivery and the outcomes have gotten better… on any level I can’t find it.
3 April 2025
Media contact: Tori McGregor- 0429 000 620
Contact details:
Tori McGregor- 0429 000 620
