[Tuggerah] Federal Member for Dobell, Emma McBride, has called on the Minister for Government Services, Stuart Robert, to assure her constituents about the welfare of employees of the Services Australia Centrelink call centre at Tuggerah.
McBride’s call comes after NSW Health confirmed that a call centre worker had tested positive for coronavirus on April 19.
The centre, which employs several hundred people, was subsequently closed for an extensive cleaning and a site risk assessment, while health authorities investigate the worker’s source of infection and begin tracing their close contacts.
It’s believed at least five other employees have since undergone testing after exhibiting COVID-19 like symptoms, but this has yet to be confirmed by health authorities.
According to McBride, reports of substandard physical distancing at the centre had been coming into her office for close to a month prior to the positive diagnosis.
“It is almost a month since I first heard concerns about the lack of physical distancing at the Services Australia call centre in Tuggerah,” McBride said.
“They are essential workers, supporting hundreds of thousands of Australians through the economic shutdown and immense job losses.
“They deserve to be safe in their workplace.
“I’m working cooperatively with the government as we face COVID-19.
“This is the responsible thing to do as the situation continues to unfold, but Minister Robert owes our community an explanation.
“This government can and should be doing more to protect its own employees.
“I will keep standing up for locals and their families who deserve better support from this government,” McBride said.
“I have written to Minister Robert twice since then, seeking information about support to work from home and the safety of employees working in the centre, and am yet to receive a response.
“Employees, their families and our community need to know that the situation is under control.
“It is my understanding that very few people have been given the option to work from home during the pandemic.
Services Australia General Manager, Hank Jongen, said the safety of staff and customers was their highest priority, and all Services Australia offices adhere to the Department of Health’s Social Distancing COVID-19 guidelines.
“We acted swiftly to ensure the safety of staff and we are working closely with NSW Health to ensure those staff who may have been in close contact with the affected staff member have been notified and are self-isolating.
“The site is expected to be open from April 22 for other staff,” Jongen said.
Jongen said Services Australia staff were working hard across the call centre network and noted that 6,000 additional staff were now taking calls and processing claims as part of the government’s COVID-19 response.
“We are ensuring that all staff have the right working environment to deliver these essential services.
“This includes following guidance from the Department of Health in terms of social distancing, increased cleaning, minimal face-to-face meetings and restructured teams.
“We are also actively working with staff at greater risk than others to provide options, like working from home, consistent with medical advice,” he said.
“They are essential workers, supporting hundreds of thousands of Australians through the economic shutdown and immense job losses.
“They deserve to be safe in their workplace.
“I’m working cooperatively with the government as we face COVID-19.
“This is the responsible thing to do as the situation continues to unfold, but Minister Robert owes our community an explanation.
“This government can and should be doing more to protect its own employees.
“I will keep standing up for locals and their families who deserve better support from this government,” McBride said.
The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) advocates for employees in the Federal and Territory public sectors, its National President, Alistair Waters, said the CPSU was aware of the diagnosis and were so far satisfied with Services Australia’s handling of the matter.
“We are aware of the positive test at the Tuggerah site and are proud of the work our delegates have done to inform their colleagues.
“We are satisfied with the way Service Australia has acted in this matter and will work with our members and Services Australia to ensure all safety measures are followed,” Waters said.
He added that the hard work of all Centrelink and Services Australia staff should be applauded as an under-represented essential service but noted the Union would not stand for unsafe working environments.
“There is no doubt that Centrelink and Services Australia staff are working longer and harder than ever before trying to meet this unprecedented surge.
“Staff must have their health and safety taken seriously.
“That means social distancing and sanitation enforcement, even if this means moving workers or call centres to other buildings – nothing should be off the table.”
“That why the CPSU has been working with Services Australia to solve issues as quickly as possible, but there is no excuse for failing to enforce social distancing and provide at least 1.5 metres between people.
“There is office space available, Services Australia should be looking to use all available resources both in the Central Coast and around the country,” Waters said.
Services Australia was approached for comment.
The Central Coast Local Health District was also asked to clarify how many centre workers had been tested for COVID-19, but the Chronicle was directed back to NSW Health.
Source:
Media statements, Apr 21
Emma McBride MP
Alistair Waters, CPSU
Press release, Apr 20
NSW Health
Reporter: Dilon Luke