Centrelink will not -˜trawl’ relationship registers

Centrelink has assured it will not monitor state relationship registers in order to catch people out in same-sex relationships but warns fraudsters will be investigated.

Speaking on the Rainbow Report on Melbourne gay radio station JOY 94.9FM, Centrelink general manager Hank Jongen said the agency was determined to be sensitive to the gay and lesbian community and will not be keeping watch on state relationship registers unless given reason to.

-œWe do not trawl those records looking for potential couples, it’s not our intention, he said.

-œWhat might happen, however, is that a couple are registered and don’t declare it to us. Through maybe an anonymous tip-off we’re alerted to that. I can tell you then we would do a one-on-one investigation.

As of July 1, all same-sex couples on benefits must notify Centrelink of their partner status as part of last year’s same-sex equality reforms.

Jongen said an advertising campaign between March and July was designed to inform the community of the changes and staff will be trained to be sensitive to the community’s difference.

-œWe’re determined to get all the language right, we’re determined to make sure the forms and questionnaires and the material that we produce is sensitive to what the government is trying to achieve which is pure non-discrimination.

-œWe, of course, have gay and lesbian staff working for the organisation. We have again a huge segment of staff that are attuned to the issues.

-œI’ve no doubt that there’ll be some homophobic staff that we will need to target as part of the introduction of these processes.

Jongen said Centrelink would rely on the community to come forward to disclose relationships as the government agency will not send out individual letters asking couples to disclose their status.