MORE THAN 100 Centrelink workers have resigned or been sacked while hundreds more have been disciplined after they conducted unauthorised searches on the records of welfare recipients
MORE THAN 100 Centrelink workers have resigned or been sacked while hundreds more have been disciplined after they conducted unauthorised searches on the records of welfare recipients.
A total of 585 staff members have been sanctioned over the last year for code of conduct violations ranging from warnings through to dismissal.
This included 19 dismissals, 92 resignations and more than 300 salary reductions or fines with the bulk of the balance receiving demotions, reprimands or warnings.
Five cases have also been referred to the Australian Federal Police or Director of Public Prosecutions.
Some staff members were sacked for surfing the details of family and friends or peeking at records of neighbours, while others conducted unauthorised searches for welfare cheats.
In a two-year sweep of 25,000 of Centrelink’s staff, CEO Jeff Whalan said he was concerned about some members of staff who were abusing their position through unethical and irresponsible behaviour.
“As a result we revamped our techniques to assist keep improper conduct in check and we are committed to maintaining the process,” he said.
Kelvin Thomson, Shadow Minister for Human Services, said it was absolutely unacceptable that Centrelink staff accessed customer records without proper authorisation.
Thomson also called for an investigation by Privacy Commissioner Karen Curtis.
“Australians are entitled to be very upset and distressed at the idea that staff may be accessing their records improperly,” he said.
