Australia politics live: Rishworth says jobseeker changes to address ‘varying quality’ of for-profit job providers | Australia news
important events
Catie McLeod
Amanada Rishworth It also pointed to changes to so-called reciprocal obligations that require job seekers to prove they have applied for a certain number of jobs to continue receiving benefit payments.
But he said the contentious system would continue despite criticism from some welfare advocates.
At 7.30 he said:
Mutual obligations have long been a feature of the system. [They] It really plays an important role.
If you receive income support and are able to work, it is part of the social contract to take steps to find a job.
The point that I think has been commented on, and I agree with, is that there is no point in having pointless, meaningless mutual obligations.
Rishworth defends jobseekers’ work scheme
Catie McLeod
Minister of Social Services, Amanda RishworthHe said he was concerned about “differences in quality” among providers aimed at helping welfare recipients find work, but defended keeping private companies in the system.
Rishworth was interviewed on the ABC’s 7.30 program last night after announcing at the National Press Club in Canberra that Labor would change the unemployment system for jobseekers.
The exact details of the new system were not announced yesterday, but it is set to be divided into three branches depending on the job seeker’s skill level and job readiness.
Asked at 7.30pm whether some of the blame for the “failures of the current system” lies with for-profit business providers who “ignore the more difficult cases”, Rishworth said:
I can say that I am concerned about the change in quality in the system. That’s why I focus on how to improve quality.
The first publication is actually about public service delivery. The second stream is more like services as we understand them today.
I predict the third stream will be different types of providers; they will have deep connections to the community and be able to do this specialized, intensive work.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live politics blog. I Martin Farrer with the best night stories and then it will be Krishani Dhanji with the main action.
Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth defended the decision not to get rid of the controversial for-profit aspects of the jobseekers scheme at 7.30pm last night. More is coming.
The eSafety commissioner told Senate estimates last night that he had yet to complete investigations into five social media platforms for failing to comply with the under-16 social media ban and that there was no “penalty button” to deal with the problem. More to follow.
