Reforms to Centrepay, the government-run bill-payment service used by millions of Centrelink recipients, are now officially underway, two months after consumer advocates welcomed the long-awaited changes in September.
The reforms, announced by Minister Katy Gallagher and supported by the Financial Rights Legal Centre, Mob Strong Debt Help, CHOICE, Anglicare NT, Economic Justice Australia and the Consumer Action Law Centre, aim to stop Centrepay being misused by high-risk businesses and restore the service to its original purpose: a voluntary, safe way for people to pay essential bills and expenses…