FED: CPSU adds its concerns to Centrelink contracting move

AAP General News (Australia)
02-01-1999
FED: CPSU adds its concerns to Centrelink contracting move

CANBERRA, Feb 1 AAP - The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) today joined the attack
on the government's plan to contract out Centrelink services which also would involve job
losses.

ABC radio today reported 500 jobs would be lost through the government's move to contract
out information technology services as part of its plan but said Community Services Minister
Warren Truss had not confirmed this figure.

The government's announcement last week that it would expand Centrelink services into rural
Australia, using credit unions, post offices, business centres and some individuals but the
plan to use agents to deliver services has been attacked by Labor.

Today CPSU spokesman Mark Gepp added his concerns on the IT move.

"What we currently have in Centrelink is a database for 6.2 million Australians with the
most sensitive and intimate details imaginable and we would have grave concerns about what
that information would be used for," Mr Gepp told ABC radio.

Yesterday opposition community services spokesman Wayne Swan demanded the privacy
commissioner urgently investigate the contracting moves because of the sensitive personal
information handled by Centrelink.

But Mr Truss denounced the call, saying it was an insult to the integrity of the agents.

ABC radio reported the government planned to issue a tender for Centrelink IT services in
May, at the same time as it offered tenders for IT services in other departments.

These included family and community services, workplace relations and small business, and
education, training and youth affairs.

ABC said 500 jobs were expected to be lost at Centrelink through the move.

"It's far too early to talk about what numbers of people might be involved," Mr Truss told
ABC radio.

"But what has tended to happen with other government departments is that a significant
number of people who are working in computer work in the various departments transfer across
to the outsourcing company."

This assurance on employment opportunities was not accepted by Mr Gepp.

"This latest announcement is devastating. It is very, very easy for the minister to sit
back and say these people will get jobs somewhere else," he said.

"I'd like to see him out there in the job market and see how well he would do."

AAP msl/bwl

KEYWORD: CENTRELINK DAYLEAD

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