19 June 2022, ABC News, Tom Lowrey. Access the full article here.
Federal government looks to fix, rather than dump, controversial changes to unemployment benefits
From July, the JobActive scheme, which requires people receiving JobSeeker benefits to apply for 20 jobs a month, will be scrapped. Employment Minister Tony Burke said while the new scheme is flawed, there is not enough time to prevent it rolling out.
The new scheme was designed under the Morrison government, and the changes have been criticised by some community advocates for being poorly communicated, leading to “fear and confusion”.
Some are concerned the new system could be more difficult to work under than the existing scheme.
Mr Burke told Sky News while the new scheme is flawed, there is not enough time to prevent it rolling out.
What the government has designed, some of it is more punitive than actually getting the job done.
– Tony Burke
Employment services survey
The Punishment for Profit report is based on hundreds of responses to surveys conducted by the Antipoverty Centre. This research is ongoing. If you are in Workforce Australia, Disability Employment Services or a similar program, we welcome any information you are able to share about your experiences.
