The Australian Government has created just under 100 Services Australia jobs across regional Queensland as part of its $228 million commitment to recruit new frontline staff for the agency.

From Far North Queensland to Toowoomba, the extra staff in regional Queensland are part of the 3,000 new recruits across the country who are currently training to improve customer experience, process claims and answer calls.

Assistant Minister for Regional Development, Senator Anthony Chisholm said the extra staff would help improve access to Centrelink payments and services for those living in rural, regional and remote areas.

“Our government is committed to supporting Australians in our regions when they need it most,” Assistant Minister Chisholm said.

“When Labor came to government, the LNP had worn down government services across the nation, and while the nation was shocked to learn more details about the Robodebt catastrophe, the LNP also slashed jobs at Services Australia, just as Australians were emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Since Labor was last in government more than a decade ago, staffing levels at Services Australia have significantly declined. In 2011-2012, there were about 37,000 staff employed at Services Australia. Today, even with the additional positions, staffing levels are more than 3,000 fewer than they were a decade ago.

“People work at Services Australia because they want to make a difference, and the thousands of applications the agency’s received for these roles are testament to that,” Assistant Minister Chisholm said.

“These new permanent jobs won’t just help Queenslanders living in regional, rural and remote areas access government services, it’s also a welcome boost for the current staff who have been feeling the pressures of under-resourcing, and can now focus on providing the best possible service to Australians.”

The extra staff recruited in Townsville, Cairns, Maryborough and Toowoomba also includes a bolstering of interpreters to help the agency engage with culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

“These extra resources are also on top of the additional 850 emergency response staff announced in the Federal Budget,” Assistant Minister Chisholm said.

“The contingency to manage natural disasters has already been called on during the agency’s support to Far North and South East Queensland during the devastating floods last month.

“This staffing increase has created jobs across the country and will deliver a better government services experience for all Australians.”

Regional recruitment figures:

• Townsville (over 20),
• Toowoomba (30)
• Cairns (over 20),
• Maryborough (over 25)
• Alice Springs (2),
• the Illawarra (90),
• the NSW North Coast (over 50) and
• regional Victoria (over 130).

ENDS