List of recommendations
Social Security Legislation Amendment (Job Seeker Compliance)
Bill 2011
Recommendation 1
The Committee recommends that a brief, plain-English
explanation of the proposed changes, and the obligations that will stem from
them, be produced and made available to all job seekers as soon as practicable.
Recommendation 2
The Committee recommends that the Department of Education,
Employment and Workplace Relations, the Department of Human Services,
employment service providers, and other stakeholders work together to develop
consistent guidance and training material to accompany the Bill.
Recommendation 3
The Committee recommends that Centrelink and employment
service provider staff are provided with comprehensive training in relation to
the measures proposed by the Bill and the guidelines that will accompany the
Bill.
Recommendation 4
The Committee recommends that employment service providers be
given clear and comprehensive guidance as to how to utilise their discretion to
submit a participation report in relation to a missed appointment.
Recommendation 5
The Committee recommends that the Department of Education,
Employment and Workplace Relations and the Department of Human Services collect
and publish data in relation to why job seekers without reasonable excuses miss
appointments.
Recommendation 6
The Committee recommends that the Department of Education,
Employment and Workplace Relations and the Department of Human Services
undertake a review of the impact of the measures proposed by the Bill after one
full year of data has been collected under the proposed compliance regime.
Recommendation 7
The Committee recommends that employment service providers
should be advised to utilise all re-engagement mechanisms available to them in
relation to vulnerable job seekers before considering compliance action and
should carefully consider the implications of the possible imposition of a
financial penalty on this group.
Recommendation 8
The Committee recommends that additional training and
resources be provided to Centrelink staff to raise awareness of job seekers
with undisclosed vulnerabilities to ensure that their needs are identified and
managed appropriately.
Recommendation 9
The Committee recommends that the word ‘special’ be removed
from the table in proposed section 42UA, inserted by Item 15 of the Bill, such
that the relevant provisions read: ‘the Secretary is satisfied that there were
circumstances in which it was not reasonable to expect the person to give the
notification.’
Recommendation 10
The Committee recommends that the House of Representatives
pass the Social Security Legislation Amendment (Job Seeker Compliance) Bill
2011.