Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Those opposite misrepresented the question. There was no concession in respect of the impact of the removal of the local liaison officer program. In fact, it was quite the opposite. If you look at the staff that have been provided to electorate offices, you have an additional electorate officer to deal with the issues of constituents in all of our offices. If you choose to use them in that way then they are a valuable resource for your constituents to work through any of the issues that may arise. But if you choose not to use them in that way then that is a decision you make within your own offices. I can say that Centrelink has been working diligently. It has been out there across Australia helping those people who are in need. It has been helping people in Queensland who have been suffering under the storms and the floods. It is also providing the $10.4 billion— (Time expired)