Security boost for Centrelink offices. Photo: George Tsotsos.
The Community and Public Sector Union has welcomed the recommendations from a review into security at Services Australia, which said hundreds more security guards should be posted at Centrelink offices around the country.
The Security Risk Management Review for Services Australia has just been released, already securing a government promise of more than $40 million to boost security at Services Australia customer centres.
The review, announced in May, was led by former Victoria Police chief commissioner Graham Ashton following the stabbing of a staff member at a Melbourne Centrelink office.
The review lists 44 recommendations, all of which the Federal Government has committed to acting on.
The recommendations include:
- 278 additional security guards, including two security guards, to be stationed at high-risk offices
- Changes to office layouts and improved security features, including physical barriers
- Better engagement with law enforcement and other security services
- Increased staff training on customer aggression
- Tougher penalties for repeat offenders, and
- Stronger legislation to address violence and aggression to public sector workers.
CPSU members played a significant role in the review, detailing their security concerns and experiences with the agency’s security and safety mechanisms.
Following the review’s release, CPSU national secretary Melissa Donnelly said she was pleased the government had committed to additional funding to implement the 44 recommendations.
“Members participated in the review providing detailed and, at times, harrowing examples of incidents they have faced at work, as well as expert advice on what needs to change to make their workplaces and customers safer,” Ms Donnelly said.
“We are glad to see Services Australia workers’ security at work given the serious attention it deserves. These recommendations will clearly improve the safety of workers and customers.
“The recommendations of the review must be implemented in full and in consultation with staff and their union representatives. We now want to work with the government to address the crisis in understaffing in Services Australia.
“Staffing levels in Services Australia have been going backwards for years and are well below where they need to be to deliver the services the community relies on.”
Ms Donnelly said previous CPSU member concerns about the reduction in the number of security guards were ignored by Services Australia management.
For these recommendations to have a meaningful impact, she said, workers must be genuinely consulted on their implementation.
The additional 278 security guards will more than double the number Services Australia currently employs and will bring the total to 513.
Government Services Minister Bill Shorten welcomed the review while promising to act on the recommendations and announcing the $40 million security boost.
“On 24 May, I announced a review into staff safety at Services Australia in response to a serious physical attack on a staff member at Services Australia’s Airport West Service Centre in Melbourne. The incident at Airport West was a terrible crime committed against a well-respected, well-loved and experienced public servant, Joeanne Cassar.
“Public servants do an important and difficult job for their community, and they should feel confident that they can turn up to work and not face abhorrent violence.
“Mr Ashton’s review will be an important step in ensuring that staff are protected and adequately safeguarded from anti-social behaviour and aggression from customers.”
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