Rebekha Sharkie (Mayo, Nick Xenophon Team) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment. My constituent Rick is 63 years of age. He was unemployed. He was on Newstart and registered with MAX Employment. He looked for work for over two years. MAX stood to receive up to $10,000 for placing Rick in work. MAX Employment sent Rick to a so-called job interview with Softec Homes. Rick won the job but realised he was not an employee but a subcontractor required to pay invoices. Rick told MAX Employment several times that he was not getting paid. Rick is now owed more than $12,000. He has no money for a lawyer and no longer hears from MAX Employment, and winding up orders were recently issued for Softec Homes. What checks and balances are in place so that vulnerable jobseekers like Rick are not taken advantage of?

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