Has Stuart Robert, Minister responsible for Centrelink, just lied in writing about the closure of Abbotsford Centrelink?
He wrote to me justifying closure of Abbotsford Centrelink by saying “the landlord advised they will not retain Services Australia as a short-term or long-term tenant and will not permit any occupancy by the Agency at the premises after the lease expires”.
BUT...
BUT...
According to this article today, the landlord offered a “lease extension on existing terms and was awaiting a formal reply... This morning it reached out again to Centrelink to confirm the premises remain available and it is welcome to stay."
theguardian.com/australia-news…
theguardian.com/australia-news…
The Minister must immediately reach out to the landlord and ensure Abbotsford Centrelink remains where it is.
In the absence of an explanation from the Minister, and if the landlord’s comments are accurate, the Minister has lied in writing and has unnecessarily hurt thousands of people.
Stuart Robert has been caught out before saying things that are untrue, like that Centrelink services collapsed under an attack from hackers, and he may well have done it again.
Unless the Minister can clarify the matter and explain what looks like a straight out lie, I’ll be moving to censure the Minister when Parliament resumes, not only for closing a much-needed Centrelink but for apparently lying about it too.
