Inhuman services

Letters to the Editor

Why is Senator Nick Xenophon so surprised that the ironically named Department of Human Services would splurge $500,000 plus fighting one of its customers over a $6000 dispute, while knowing it was in the wrong ("Department of Human Services spends $500,000 on legal fees fighting $6000 child support dispute", canberratimes.com.au, December 22)?

As those who think that government exists to advance and protect the interests of citizens rudely discover through direct experience, government sees its principal role to keep citizens "in their place" so it can busy itself advancing its own self-interest.

Money, particularly that belonging to taxpayers, is no object when it comes to that imperative.

John Richardson, Wallagoot,NSW

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No end to DHS debacle

Your article "Obsession with secrecy, red tape at DHS" (December 19, p5), sums up this department to a tee. As a former employee I can attest to that. The fetid culture of arrogance and disregard for transparency, disregard for customers and its own employees, as well as the government and the media has become worse under the current management team.

To say there are "cultural issues and management system issues" at the Department of Human Services is akin to saying Cyclone Tracy was a light breeze. Most of these cultural issues and toxic management styles emanate from Centrelink, which is almost cult-like in its attitude.

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Inhuman services