‘Less than optimal’: Centrelink call wait times blow out amid staff shortages

Labor government blames Coalition for cutting the agency's workforce by around 13% from 2016 levels

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Centrelink's call waiting times have blown out as the agency deals with a labour shortage, with Labor blaming the gutting of the agency's workforce under the Coalition.

Senate estimates heard on Wednesday that Indue, the company that ran the cashless debit card, has been handed a $12m limited tender" contract for the new income management card to be used in the Northern Territory.

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