Not all Centrelink payments are “welfare” aged pensions certainly are NOT welfare people paid for this pensions out of the taxes they have paid

Or are you one of those who have legally but immorally paid less taxes by using means to reduce the amount you would otherwise have paid

I have never got in in UNDER 16 minutes -why am I so unlucky. This in not for me as I am not on any centrelink payments (ie I do have other things to do) but for my 95+yo blind and deaf motherin law who needs to interact with Centrelink

Romeital - pension is welfare as its means tested 

anyway the point I was making is if you’re on a pension , means you ain’t working , so stop being a snowflake and stay in hold for 16 minutes

wont kill you 

I have never, ever waited only 15 minutes!! 45 minutes, yes, but not 15. That's only if I can get through and not getting the busy signal. I had to ring Centrelink technical support, there is no number to press for this, so I have to wait for someone to answer (45 minutes) just so she/he can put me on hold while he/she transfers me to the technical support area (another 45min). I am a carer, I have better things to do with my time, like care for someone! I have already rang 3 times regarding some glitch in my online account that technical support supposed to fix, and you guessed right, I have to ring them again, as after a month and three calls later, still not fixed!

15 minutes? It's well over an hour!!!

And listening to the same music, over and over again, have not changed it for years.

Raphael, If you believe that it only takes 15 minutes to get through to centrelink then you probably belive that there are faires at the bottom of your garden. And its a bit assumptive to assume that because someone has to ring centrelink that they have nothing else to do. That axe that you constantly grind must be getting a bit blunt by now.

If I have to wait more than 15 mins at the doctor or dentist, I sent him a bill for my time

Understandable. You're more important than me. :)

Just try to ring Centrelink and see if you can get through within 15 minutes!! It takes a little bit longer, like 45+ minutes!

The tablet holder at your office must be one of the conscientious Centrelink workers as the last time I went to my local office the tablet holder couldn’t give a hoot and made me wait 15 - 20 minutes to see another employee only to be told that the tablet holder could have sorted my query out with no wait

therein lies the problem how to government departments get rid of incompetent employees as Centrelink has many of bringing all their great staff down they probably promote them to their level of incompetence 

Freddie, you need to get an UNLIMITED monthly credit for your mobile from Telstra unlimited SMS and phone calls for 28 days for $30 PLUS you get 2.5 of data WHICH adds to 50G if you don't use it

Amaysin has $10 per month 1GB unlimited phone and test.

The Australian Pension could be increased if the payment was simplified 

As it stands it is grossly unfair to many people 

They say for one example that your principle place of residence is not counted as an asset yet a couple renting can have over $200000 more in assets and get rent assistance If you’ve downsized and live in SA your house is probably not worth much more than that so it is counted as an asset for some

Best comment, Suze!

The statistics are Fake anyway, as they excluded 55 Million calls which got the engaged tone. Hank should quit for this reason alone.

That is unacceptable unhappy! Particularly since they have up to the minute, latest technology track n trace, they should know where your parcel is all the time.

I have waited an hour to catch a fish, but I know what you're thinking, it's relative to the situation. And you're right!

my experience exactly 

Agree Deb Dickman - when one has put in one should get something back out if one lives long enough. Hawke changed the pension to some sort of welfare when super was brought in late 80s. Super might come of age when today's 20-year-olds get to 70. Till then it is supplementary to the Age Pension. Sad really that politicians get a pension without asset test and at the end of their days quite often a State funeral to send them on their way. And this is the land of equality.

Actualy Micha Raphy works at a very high level in finance , 

paying for your welfare .

Oops poor Deb got her knickers in a twist .

if pension was a right - everyone would get it . Wouldn’t be means tested.

pension is welfare -  given to those who are unfortunate to not have been able to save sufficiently for retirement

and the “chill” comment - waiting 15 mins when you’re a pensioner who doesn’t have to rush to work or rush home and look after kids - is no big deal

after all one should  take it easy when they retire - not get stressed over little things 

also if wait time is to be reduced ,centerlink costs would increase due to more staffing - unless of course you privatized it so that centerlink could be run more edficiently 

Shut up Raphael, go talk  to Brocky

Raph, that chil remark should be directed at Brocky. He had a hissy fit over a lolly. Imagine what he would do if he had to wait 15min?

I believe that it’s a done deal

3 year pilot program with a company called Serco will run the call center 

It's an average 15 mins, yours was 42, the next person might have been 5 etc.