Canberrans entered 2017 with fewer places to access ACT government services with the closure of the Access Canberra Fyshwick shopfront.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The ACT government announced it is also moving its existing Access Canberra Woden shopfront to the Cosmopolitan Building at the Woden Interchange in mid-February.
The new Woden centre will replicate the Gungahlin shopfront's cashless model, with payment only accepted via debit or credit card.
It will offer a number of new services, faster transactions and touch screen terminals for online transactions, an Access Canberra spokesperson said.
The most recent closure leaves ACT government shopfronts found at Tuggeranong, Belconnen,Gungahlin and Woden.
An Access Canberra spokesperson said the Fyshwick shopfront was isolated, difficult to travel to and offered only a limited range of services.
While 40 per cent of Canberrans still prefer face-to-face transactions, the spokesperson was confident the current shopfronts were "well-equipped to meet demand for those who choose to access services in person".
"Access Canberra is moving to new locations and transforming shop fronts into digital-first centres," the spokesperson said.
"The removal of cash from the premises reduces risks associated with armed robbery and allows our staff to get out from behind security screens to interact with our customers in a more personal way."
The spokesperson did not reveal what other locations would see a new shopfront, or how staff numbers would be impacted by the Fyshwick closure and Woden's move away from personal service.
It is hoped Woden's new cash-free model will reduce wait times, a goal Chief Minister Andrew Barr expressed for the Gungahlin shopfront when it opened in 2015.
The Access Canberra spokesperson said average wait times for shopfronts for the financial year to date were six minutes and eight seconds - meeting the ACT government's target.
With Canberrans down a shopfront, opposition spokesman for transport Alistair Coe said he would examine in coming weeks the disruptions the Fyshwick closure will have on residents who live and work in South Canberra.
The new Woden shopfront was announced in November as part of an ACT government plan to rejuvenate the town centre, which Mr Coe said had seen "tough times".
The plan included moving about 1100 territory Health Directorate and Access Canberra staff to the town centre and boosting struggling businesses.
In January 2015, Woden became the "one-stop-shop" for federal government shopfronts so people could manage Centrelink, Medicare and tax in one centre.
