RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommendation 1

4.66             The committee recommends that the government consider increasing the resources available to Stream 1 jobseekers, to ensure that prompt and effective support is provided in the first weeks and months of unemployment.

Recommendation 2

4.67             The committee recommends that the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations work with Job Services Australia to ensure that training and support programs for workers aged 45–64 are appropriately targeted.

Recommendation 3

4.68             The committee recommends that the government develop targeted and tailored programs for former carers as they move to Newstart Allowance or another payment once their caring responsibilities end.

Recommendation 4

4.97             The committee recommends that the government identify savings in the existing social security expenditure to increase the income free threshold for long term Newstart Allowance recipients to 6 hours work per fortnight at the minimum wage.

Recommendation 5

4.98             The committee recommends that the working credit for Newstart Recipients be increased from $1000 to the equivalent of three months' work at the minimum wage.

Recommendation 6

4.99             The committee recommends that the government reform its processes to enable departing Newstart recipients to remain active on departmental systems for one year after they cease receiving payment.

Recommendation 7

4.105         The committee recommends that the government assess the viability of creating an online calculator for Newstart and other recipients to enable jobseekers to easily calculate the costs and benefits of work, and the impact of work on allowances and other payments.

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