Consumer rights organisations, led by the Financial Rights Legal Centre, have endorsed the proposed reforms to Centrepay, Centrelink’s bill-paying service. The submission, backed by over a dozen advocacy groups, applauds the realignment of Centrepay to its original purpose—supporting financial wellbeing for vulnerable Australians. Key reforms include removing high-risk service categories (e.g. consumer leases, funeral expenses), introducing mandatory deduction limits, strengthening business oversight, and improving customer protections. The submission emphasises the need for robust enforcement, enhanced customer transparency, and safeguards against financial exploitation, especially in remote communities. It also recommends long-term legislative backing to ensure the program’s integrity.

Collaborating Organisations:

• Financial Rights Legal Centre
• Australian Communications Consumer Action Network
• AnglicareNT
• Brotherhood of St Laurence
• Care
• CatholicCareNT
• CHOICE
• Consumer Action Law Centre
• Consumer Credit Legal Service WA
• Economic Justice Australia
• Financial Counselling Australia
• Financial Counselling Victoria
• Mob Strong Debt Help
• Money Mob Talkabout
• Redfern Legal Centre
• South Australian Financial Counselling Association
• Welfare Rights & Advocacy Service (WA)