A federal minister has dismissed opposition claims the opening of Albury’s new myGov shopfront masks deeply entrenched service problems.
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The concept brings together staff from the Department of Human Services and the Australian Taxation Office.
Albury is the first such centre in regional Australia and follows Brisbane, Sydney, Perth and Adelaide central business districts in getting a myGov shopfront.
The aim is to help educate people in the digital services on offer from both agencies.
Human Services Minister Marise Payne agreed there had been issues with the myGov website.
But Senator Payne said in Albury on Friday that these problems would be addressed as part of a major technological overhaul
“We are in the process of starting to build new welfare payment infrastructure, which is going to be a massive, significant program for the Commonwealth,” she said.
“That will help us be much more efficient, much more streamlined and make life much simpler for the customer.”
Senator Payne officially opened the centre in Wilson Street with Farrer MP and Health Minister Sussan Ley.
Opposition human services spokesman Doug Cameron immediately went on the attack.
"I think the minister has got far more pressing issues than running around cutting ribbons,” he said.
“The myGov system has got significant problems she should be looking at.
“The recent reports into Human Services show significant problems with call waiting times and the minister just doesn’t seem to have a clue on how to handle this.”
Senator Cameron said people in the Albury region should not be forced into electronic communications with government.
“They should be able to determine whether they write a letter, use a telephone or walk in and see someone,” he said.
Senator Cameron said costs were being cut at the expense of quality service.
![System ready: myGov service officer Lillian Hake, Sussan Ley and Senator Marise Payne. System ready: myGov service officer Lillian Hake, Sussan Ley and Senator Marise Payne.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/zTpV5j6X6iLmSh5SbcmSaP/2af48b32-3b11-4283-a8f2-be0859f0f737.jpg/r0_242_5184_3168_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
But Senator Payne said anyone with a more complex problem could still make an appointment.
Ms Ley said the service centre had gained two dedicated learning hubs where customers learnt how to connect to government apps.
“myGov is a key element of transforming the way people do business with government, and is meeting a growing demand for digital services from government,” she said.