Media Releases

30 Sep 2010 - Review of job seeker compliance system tabled in Parliament

THE HON KATE ELLIS MP
MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT PARTICIPATION
AND CHILD CARE

MEDIA RELEASE
30 September 2010

Review of job seeker compliance system tabled in Parliament

The Minister for Employment Participation and Child Care, Kate Ellis has welcomed an independent review of Australia's compliance arrangements for job seekers.

The 2009 Social Security Legislation Amendment (Employment Services Reform) Act brought in new compliance rules for unemployed people receiving income support. At the request of Parliament, the Act required the changes be reviewed after their first year of operation.
The impact of the legislation was examined by an independent panel, chaired by social welfare expert Prof Julian Disney AO, who was supported by former senior public servant Mr Peter Grant PSM and company director Ms Anna Buduls.

"I would like to thank the panel for their hard work in compiling this comprehensive report," Ms Ellis said.

"I look forward to considering the contents of the report in detail and I would encourage comments from Members and Senators on its findings."

The report is supportive of the changes made by the Australian Government to compliance arrangements in July 2009 and makes some recommendations around further improvements.

"Our reforms in 2009 were made to get the balance right between ensuring job seekers meet their participation requirements and providing the appropriate support for job seekers to prepare for, find and keep a job," Ms Ellis said.

"The Australian Government believes that there is nothing more important in managing the Australian economy than to ensure that Australians have the opportunity to work."
"That is why we have strengthened Australia's employment services with the creation of Jobs Services Australia and Disability Employment Services, which provides unemployed Australians with the opportunity to train and work."

Since July 2009, Job Services Australia has placed more than 400,000 job seekers into work, including around 35,000 Indigenous job seekers.

Despite being developed in 2007 when the economy was strong and unemployment was at very low levels, Jobs Services Australia has proven to be responsive to changing conditions, providing much needed assistance to workers who lost their jobs during the Global Financial Crisis.

"The Australian Government is proud to be providing the opportunity of work to more job seekers but we believe that welfare should only ever serve as a temporary respite and not a permanent resort," Ms Ellis said.

"That is why the Australian Government has already committed to introducing tougher rules for jobseekers who are receiving welfare payments."

The Government will introduce a new penalty for non-attendance at employment service appointments  including for a training program or Work for the Dole project  to make sure jobseekers comply with the assistance they need to get a job.
All job seekers will be made aware that failure to attend appointments or other required activities may result in an immediate withholding of income support until re-engagement occurs.

The Australian Government is committed to making significant inroads into entrenched disadvantage and welfare dependency and will expect greater responsibility on the part of job seekers receiving support.

The report, Impacts of the new Job Seeker Compliance Framework, is available at: http://www.deewr.gov.au/Employment/ComplianceReview/Pages/ComplianceReview.aspx

Minister Ellis' media contact: Jamila Rizvi 0438 644 603
DEEWR Media: media@deewr.gov.au Non-media enquiries: 1300 363 079