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Centrelink Boss Admits 'We Made Some Mistakes' With Online Letter System

Hank Jongen claims Centrelink is still using computers from the 1980s.
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The general manager of Centrelink has admitted his department has "made some mistakes" in recent times, but partly blamed the situation on "antiquated" computer systems which are relics of the 1980s.

Hank Jongen appeared on ABC radio in Perth on Wednesday, being interviewed by the host and taking questions from callers. In the wake of the 'robo-debt' automated debt recovery debacle -- where some clients received debts for a time they weren't even on Centrelink, others were told to pay debts even if they disputed it, and many claimed the debt notices they received are incorrect, too high, or just plain false -- Centrelink has been slammed by clients and community groups as well as Labor and the Greens.

Despite the Commonwealth Ombudsman launching an investigation, and a Senate report recommending the system be suspended until fixed and all debts be re-assessed immediately, human services minister Alan Tudge maintained everything is working well. On radio, however, Jongen admitted his department had failed in some respects.

"I understand the department has a goal of 85 percent customer satisfaction... without being unkind to you personally, you've got nowhere near that in recent years," said host Geoff Hutchison.

"That's true," Jongen replied.

The Centrelink general manager explained that the department had been "putting in a massive amount of effort to maintain as high a level of customer service as we can", before again admitting errors.

"We've made some mistakes, I have to say, with the online letters system," Jongen said.

"The initial advice we sent to customers could have been better, and the system which enabled people to resolve those issues could have been better. We work hard to remedy errors that occur like that."

He reiterated the department was working to correct errors, but said some of the issues were down to Centrelink's office equipment -- which included technology from thirty years ago.

"The computer systems we're working with were designed in the 80s. They are antiquated," he said.

Jongen complained that other departments, such as the Australian Tax Office, had been equipped with brand new technology. Despite many of the 'robo-debt' issues being blamed on automated software that aims to cut out human intervention, Jongen said he actually hoped Centrelink would adopt more automated processes.

"Where we have to be is where the tax office is now. When people lodge their tax returns, 80 percent of tax returns are processed without any human intervention," he said.

"In the case of Centrelink, 100 percent of cases require human intervention at various points along the way."

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