Exotic birds, LCD televisions and a session on the pokies: The Centrelink families that have been splurging YOUR cash after $10,000 landed in their bank accounts because of a ‘glitch’
- Some families have been spending up after a glitch put $10,000 in their account
- The government is supposed to deposit the funds directly to service providers
- Centres rely on the deposited funds to pay staff and cover costs of programs
- Some of the families used the lump sum to purchase an exotic bird or gamble
Low-income families have been on extravagant spending sprees after a Centrelink glitch saw up to $10,000 deposited into their bank accounts.
Some individuals receiving subsidised child care received the funding intended for service providers, in a government slip-up that has left child care centres in NSW out of pocket.
Lump sums of $10,000 of taxpayer-funded Additional Child Care Subsidies (ACCS) was intended for centres, which have had to operate for free in the interim.
According to a report in the The Daily Telegraph, a lot the money has already been spent on gambling, new televisions and even exotic birds.
Low-income families have been on extravagant spending sprees after a Centrelink glitch saw up to $10,000 deposited into their bank accounts
The government is supposed to deposit the funds directly into the accounts of service providers, who are now providing childcare or free while their application for ACCS is processed, The Daily Telegraph reported.
In some situations, cases are pending for up to 12 weeks.
Centres rely on the deposited funds to pay staff and cover costs of programs.
One of the families used the lump sum to purchase an exotic bird, which they then brought into the child care centre to show off.
Some families admitted to heading to the pokies, where they gambled away the funds (stock image)
One of the families used the lump sum to purchase an exotic bird, which they then brought into the child care centre to show off (stock image)
Another family splashed out on a new LCD television, while others headed to the pokies or spent the money on new clothes and shoes.
Chief executive officer of Early Learning Australia Sam Page described the blunder as ‘irresponsible’ of the Department of Social Services and the Department of Education.
‘I am concerned that the way this has been mismanaged has potentially exacerbated the risk these children are in,’ Ms Page said.
‘It is extraordinary that the Department of Social Services and the Department of Education would not have a system in place to ensure this back payment does not go direct to vulnerable families. They need to resolve this issue urgently.’
Another family splashed out on a new LCD television, while others headed to the pokies or spent the money on new clothes and shoes (stock image)