Media Release by Senator the Hon Amanda Vanstone

Centrelink arrangements over Christmas and New Year

With over six million customers, the important work that Centrelink undertakes has a big impact on the lives of many Australians. Over the Christmas and New Year’s period, Centrelink puts in place special arrangements to ensure that its customers continue to receive quality service.

Centrelink offices and Call Centres will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

While Friday 27 December is an Australian Public Service holiday, Centrelink Call Centres will be operate from 8am-1pm and many Centrelink offices will be open for at least half of the day. (see attached list for details of Centrelinks that will be open)

Payments that are made automatically to customers will not be delayed by the holidays, although some customers will receive their payments early.

To minimise disruption to budgeting patterns, early payments are advanced by as few working days as possible. Customers will not be paid again until their next usual payday.

Newstart and Youth Allowance customers, and others who need to return forms prior to receiving payment, will be sent a special yellow coloured form that can be returned earlier than usual. Customers should check their yellow form carefully for information on the earliest date that it can be returned.

ACTCentrelink opening hours for Friday, 27 December 2002

Office Hours

  • Belconnen 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Braddon 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Queanbeyan 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Tuggeranong 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Woden 8:30am – 12:30pm

New South Wales

Centrelink opening hours for Friday, 27 December 2002

Office Hours

  • Albury 8:30am – 12 noon
  • Auburn 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Bankstown 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Batemans Bay 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Baulkham Hills 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Bega 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Blacktown 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Bondi 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Bowral 9am – 3pm
  • Campbelltown 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Campsie 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Caringbah 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Chatswood 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Corrimal 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Darlinghurst 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Deniliquin 10am – 2pm
  • Dubbo 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Fairfield 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Gosford (Watt Street) 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Griffith 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Gunnedah 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Hawkesbury 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Hurstville 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Katoomba 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Leeton 9am – 12 noon
  • Lithgow 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Liverpool 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Maroubra 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Marrickville 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Merrylands 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Mt Druitt 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Mudgee 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Newcastle (King Street) 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Nowra 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Orange 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Parramatta 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Penrith 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Queanbeyan 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Redfern 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Rockdale 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Ryde 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Shellharbour 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Springwood 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • St Marys 8:30pm – 12:30pm
  • Strathfield 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Sutherland 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Tamworth 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Tweed Heads 8:30am – 12 noon
  • Wagga Wagga 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Wollongong 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Wyong 8:30am – 12:30pm

Northern Australia

Centrelink opening hours for Friday, 27 December 2002

Office Hours

  • Alice Springs 8:30am – 1pm
  • Katherine 8am – 12 noon
  • Casuarina 8.15am – 12.15pm
  • Broome 9am – 1pm

Queensland

Centrelink opening hours for Friday, 27 December 2002

Office Hours

  • Aitkenvale morning only
  • (313 – 315 Ross River Road [Elizabeth Street])
  • Atherton morning only
  • Ayr morning only
  • Biggera Waters 8:30am – 12 noon
  • Bowen morning only
  • Bundaberg 8:30am – 12 noon
  • Cairns (Aplin Street) morning only
  • Charters Towers morning only
  • Gladstone morning only
  • Goodna 8:30am – 12 noon
  • Hervey Bay 8:30am – 12 noon
  • Inala 8:30am – 12 noon
  • Ingham morning only
  • Innisfail morning only
  • Ipswich 8:30am – 12 noon
  • Mackay open all day
  • Mareeba morning only
  • Maroochydore 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Maryborough 8:30am – 12 noon
  • Mt Isa morning only
  • Nerang 8:30am – 12 noon
  • Nundah (Station Street) 8:30am – 12 noon
  • Palm Beach 8:30am – 12 noon
  • Rockhampton morning only
  • Southport 8:30am – 12 noon
  • Toowoomba 8:30am – 12 noon
  • Tweed Heads 8:30am – 12 noon
  • Warwick 8:30am – 12 noon
  • Whitsunday morning only

South Australia

Centrelink opening hours for Friday, 27 December 2002

Office Hours

  • Adelaide 9am – 1:30pm
  • Berri 9am – 2:00pm
  • Ceduna 9am – 1.00pm
  • Elizabeth 9am – 1:00pm
  • Enfield 9am – 1:30pm
  • Gawler 9am – 1:30pm
  • Glenelg 9am – 1:30pm
  • Kadina 9am – 1:00pm
  • Kilkenny 9am – 1:30pm
  • Modbury 9am – 1.30pm
  • Mt Barker 9am – 1:30pm
  • Marion 9am – 1:30pm
  • Murray Bridge 9am – 2:00pm
  • Noarlunga 9am – 1:30pm
  • Norwood 9am – 1:30pm
  • Parkside 9am – 1:00pm
  • Port Adelaide 9am – 1:30pm
  • Port Augusta 9am – 1:00pm
  • Port Pirie 9am – 1:00pm
  • Torrensville 9am – 1:30pm
  • Victor Harbor 9am – 1.30pm

Tasmania

Centrelink opening hours for Friday, 27 December 2002

Office Hours

  • Burnie 8:30am to noon
  • Devonport 8:30am to noon
  • Launceston 8:30am to noon
  • Mowbray 8:30am to noon
  • Bridgewater 8:30am to noon
  • Glenorchy 8:30am to noon
  • Hobart 8:30am to noon
  • Sorell 8:30am to noon
  • Rosny Park 8:30am to noon

Victoria

Centrelink opening hours for Friday, 27 December 2002

Office Hours

  • Bendigo 8:30am – 4:30pm
  • Colac 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Corio 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Darebin 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Echuca 8:30am – 12:00pm
  • Essendon 9:00am – 1:00pm
  • Footscray 9:00am – 1:30pm
  • Fountain Gate 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Frankston 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Geelong 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Greensborough 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Mildura 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Morwell 8.30am – 12.30pm
  • Ringwood 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Shepparton 8:30am –12:00pm
  • Sunbury 9:00am – 1:00pm
  • Swan Hill 8:30am – 12:30pm
  • Warrnambool 8:30am – 11:30am
  • Windsor 8:30am – 12:30pm

Western Australia

Centrelink opening hours for Friday, 27 December 2002

Office Hours

  • Albany 8.30 am – 12.30 pm
  • Armadale 8.30 am – 12.30 pm
  • Bunbury 8.30 am – 12.30 pm
  • Busselton 8.30 am – 12.30 pm
  • Cannington 8.30 am – 12.30 pm
  • Carnarvon 8.30 am – 12.30 pm
  • Curtin University 8.30 am – 12.30 pm
  • Esperance 8.30 am – 12.30 pm
  • Fremantle 8.30 am – 12.30 pm
  • Geraldton 8.30 am – 12.30 pm
  • Gosnells 8.30 am – 12.30 pm
  • Innaloo 8.30 am – 12.30 pm
  • Joondalup 8.30 am – 12.30 pm
  • Mandurah 8.30 am – 12.30 pm
  • Midland 8.30 am – 12.30 pm
  • Milligan Street 8.30 am – 12.30 pm
  • Mirrabooka 8.30 am – 12.30 pm
  • Morley 8.30 am – 12.30 pm
  • Northam 8.30 am – 12.30 pm
  • Rockingham 8.30 am – 12.30 pm
  • South Hedland 8.30 am – 12.30 pm
  • Spearwood 8.30 am – 12.30 pm
  • Victoria Park 8.30 am – 12.30 pm
  • Warwick Grove 8.30 am – 12.30 pm