Sporadic visits no replacement for vital Centrelink service in Benalla

By Simon Ruppert

May 9, 2022

Lost: A note appeared in the window of Benalla’s Centrelink in April 2021 stating it was temporarily closed. The office never re-opened. Photo by Simon Ruppert

The removal of Benalla’s Centrelink office has been a disaster for local pensioners, jobseekers, veterans and people living with disability.

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With lacklustre transport links to the nearest office in Wangaratta, people needing to access vital government services are struggling to do so.

Benalla does have an agency service where people can be assisted to log into a computer or given access to a telephone.

Many in the Rose City say this is ineffective and of no help to those who are not used to Centrelink services, or are not tech savvy.

People in Benalla want someone to talk to face to face.

Luckily they had that opportunity on May 10 and again today, May 11 with Service Australia’s Mobile Service Centre, Golden Wattle, in town.

While this is great for those two days, it does not address the real issue.

That being that Benalla is a rural city with a high level of socio-economic disadvantage and an ageing community.

It is a community that needs access to government services all year round, not just for a couple of days here and there.

Misleading: The sign at the front of Benalla Centrelink in April 2021 stated its closure was temporary. Photo by Simon Ruppert

What this visit does show is that Service Australia and the Government Services Minister Linda Reynolds understands there is a need for Centrelink services in Benalla.

Ms Reynolds, however, said in Benalla, there was now a permanent five-day-a-week local (agent) service on Nunn St, which she described as superior to the previous visiting service.

“The previous arrangement was a visiting service from Wangaratta that had been suspended for over 12 months due to COVID-19 restrictions,” she said.

“The new-five-day-a-week local agent service is more reliable and sustainable than the previous four-day-per-week visiting service.”

If it is a better service than what Benalla had previously, it begs the question as to why the Golden Wattle bus needs to visit the Rose City?

Ms Reynolds said it merely complimented the current agent service in Benalla.

Federal Member for Indi Helen Haines, however, said the community was blindsided last year when the government closed the Centrelink office and replaced it with an agency model.

“There is a clear need for face-to-face services in Benalla, for dealing with complex issues that have significant impact on lives,” Dr Haines said.

“I have written to the Government Services Minister about... the Centrelink services being removed from Benalla, expressing the anger and concern in the community.

“I have also met with the minister... making it clear it was not acceptable for the people of Benalla.

“Travelling to Wangaratta to see someone face to face to get help with Centrelink issues is a big impost and reduces access to these vital services.”

When the Golden Wattle truck, which is operated by trained staff from Services Australia, is in Benalla it can help with: