Nationwide industrial action will affect Ballarat Service Centre and Child Support phone services on Friday and next week, the Department of Human Services says.
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Centrelink, Medicare and Child Support Services staff are striking over three days, on Friday this week and Monday and Friday next week, in protest against the federal government’s public sector bargaining policy.
DHS is encouraging people to defer non-urgent to non-strike days. Customer payments will not be affected.
All service centres and most phone lines providing Centrelink, Medicare and Child Support services will be closed for several days over the New Year and Christmas break, from December 26 to 28 and on Monday, January 2 2017.
Payments will not be delayed by the holidays, but some customers may receive their payments earlier than usual.
To see whether a payment or reporting date will change visit humanservices.gov.au/holidays.
Jessica Black
Ballarat journalist.
Ballarat journalist.
