The Australian Greens have said a significant number of jobseekers will be punished and disadvantaged by any expansion of the work for the dole scheme.
“Work for the Dole is not an effective program for getting people into work and study. Rather it is just another example of the Government’s ideological war against income support and social security,” Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on family and community services said.
“Work for the Dole will not address the fundamental barriers to employment that people are facing such as specific training and support that jobseekers need. This approach ignores issues like age discrimination against older jobseekers which is a growing problem for people over 40.”
“Subjecting people to even tougher compliance requirements does not help deal with the lack of available jobs, discrimination, a lack of training or the fact they can’t afford rent, food and clothes. This announcement is all about punishing people. If jobs aren’t available, it is a nonsense to say people have to apply for at least a job a day.”
“The Government should be investing in job services and lifting the inadequate rates of Newstart and Youth Allowance by $50 per week so that job seekers are actually supported and helped back into the workforce, rather than being left in poverty,” Senator Siewert concluded.
(27/7/14 Sen Rachel Siewert)