Long queues formed outside Illawarra Centrelink offices on Monday, with more people forced to seek government help amid the worsening COVID-19 crisis.
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In Wollongong, people of all ages stood in a queue down Burelli Street. Some wore face masks and kept their distance from others. It was a similar story at the Corrimal office.
On Sunday, the NSW government announced another round of stimulus and welfare measures as more businesses were forced into shut down to stop the spread of the virus.
Federal Labor MPs Sharon Bird and Stephen Jones said it was vital for the government to provide better resourcing and staffing for Centrelink at this time.
In a joint statement Ms Bird and Mr Jones said it had "never been more important for the social security safety net to be strong" in Australia.
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"Many families, workers and business owners who have never accessed social security before are being forced to by the financial effects of the coronavirus.
"People should not have to wait weeks to access these vital payments.
"But at this hour of need Australians are having to grapple with inadequate service, online glitches, and a lack of planning to deal with demand at Centrelink shopfronts.
"Around the Illawarra there are queues around the block at Centrelink offices as first-time social security recipients are told they can only get a Customer Reference Number by going into shopfronts in person.
"And online myGov has once again crashed despite demand being entirely foreseeable."
The Labor MPs said Government Services Minister Stuart Robert must ensure Centrelink services - online and in person - were working now when Australians need them most.
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