The Nationals Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron, has called on the Andrews Government to put the service back into customer service after a number of departmental offices in the Latrobe Valley have slashed office hours or reduced accessibility.
The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing office in Morwell – one of the most in-demand and vital services for people in the Valley at the moment – is now only open to the public by appointment.
The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action office in Traralgon has cut its “counter service” to just 20 hours per week, and phone services are only available during select business hours.
“These are critical services, and it is simply not good enough to refer people to a phone service which cannot replace the level of service people get with face-to-face contact,” Mr Cameron said.
“Recently, the Minister for Environment admitted under questioning that other local front of office services in East Gippsland have been transitioned to a ‘customer contact centre phone line’.
“It’s clear the same thing is happening in the Valley, and that’s evidenced by the sheer volume of people visiting my office to report they have attempted to access services at state government department offices only to find the offices are closed.
“All residents should have the option of turning up to an office, during office hours, and be able to talk to a local as they have always done.
“Government departments are there to provide a public service, and they cannot fulfil this obligation by slashing office hours and referring people to call centres.”
