Centrelink's costly new logo is a no-go

[twinkles**stars]

The new logo for Centrelink. Source: Supplied

IT'S the new Centrelink rainbow logo that cost taxpayers $4.6 million but nobody wants to own up to being the Mr Squiggle who signed off on the expenditure.

Despite ongoing complaints that Centrelink's call centres are understaffed, the Department of Human Services found millions of dollars for the logo update.

Announced by Centrelink on the social media site Twitter in February 2012, with a post stating: "We've got a new logo!'' the squiggle came with an eye-watering price tag.

First, departmental officials commissioned a $30,000 study into a new logo in 2010, when the Rudd-Gillard government merged Centrelink, Medicare and Child Support into one department, during the period former treasurer Chris Bowen was the responsible minister.

But the big cost arrived in 2011 and 2012 when the Department of Human Services decided to take down the Centrelink signs featuring two outstretched hands and replace them with the new rainbow squiggle. The Sunday Telegraph contacted former human services ministers Chris Bowen, Tanya Plibersek, Brendan O'Connor and Kim Carr to discover if one of them had signed off on the squiggle, but drew a blank.

The department even raised the prospect that the $4.6 million expenditure was not signed off by any minister at all, stating that "the changes to signage and minimal logo changes were handled as part of the normal administrative practices of the department''.

[purple_haize]

Aust. post cant run themselves, let alone Centrelink

[polksaladallie]

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@twyngwyn wrote:

But then there is this idea.....WHAAAAA?????

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-28/australia-post-plan-to-takeover-centrelink-operations/5049336

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I couldn't believe this when I heard it this morning.  I thought it was worthy of inclusion in a post about centrlink, but apparently not.

[freddie*rooster]

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@purple_haize wrote:

Freddie, the Medicare that I go to, has still got a claim box, well it did a couple of weeks ago, as I used it.

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The claim box, has only just taken over here from a staff of 3.

[purple_haize]

Seems everything Freddie, is going down the gurgler.

[freddie*rooster]

They moved Medicare into the centrelink building, after a few months they even introduced seating. I guess the reason being the automatic door was constantly open causing aircon issues due to the line of people waiting out into the street.

Now the inside seating has gone, medicare staff have gone, the waiting time on the phone for Centrelink has increased to 90 mins (that's if you can get through) The online humanservices website is a minefield of glitches, so all looks good for the future.

[purple_haize]

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@freddie*rooster wrote:

They moved Medicare into the centrelink building, after a few months they even introduced seating. I guess the reason being the automatic door was constantly open causing aircon issues due to the line of people waiting out into the street.

Now the inside seating has gone, medicare staff have gone, the waiting time on the phone for Centrelink has increased to 90 mins (that's if you can get through) The online humanservices website is a minefield of glitches, so all looks good for the future.

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It all sounds wonderful........wait till Aust. Post takes over!

[annies_fancy_dress]

Many years ago I went to one of those opinion meetings where they pay you to sit in a group and give an opinion on 'something' which later turned out to be the 'new' centerlink logo.

I imagine that after so many years they do an upgrade. MIght even be automatic after a certain amount of time.

[twinkles**stars]

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@freddie*rooster wrote:

They moved Medicare into the centrelink building, after a few months they even introduced seating. I guess the reason being the automatic door was constantly open causing aircon issues due to the line of people waiting out into the street.

Now the inside seating has gone, medicare staff have gone, the waiting time on the phone for Centrelink has increased to 90 mins (that's if you can get through) The online humanservices website is a minefield of glitches, so all looks good for the future.

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Yep and for those who work their opening hours are pitiful 😞 And it's been getting worse over the years.

[debra9275]

If they've just spent that amount of money on a new logo Twinks, that's a disgrace. There are so many people in need.
As for Medicare, less staff, less service, all the time, I don't even know where my nearest Medicare centre is now, sounds like it must be in the Centrelink building then

Freddie we've had trouble making online claims with Medibank, some have to be claimed through Medicare first but there's no-one to tell you who to claim what from anymore

[freddie*rooster]

Hi Deb it's a shamozzle, I signed up for online medicare because of increased medical bills, and not always feeling well enough to be bothered going into Centrelink to claim. Since signing up I have been unable to claim any paid account, it always rejects the item number.