Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

We are introducing the Newstart changes, which come into effect from 1 January 2015, so that young people on unemployment benefits can be encouraged to earn or learn. That is the objective. We want to do whatever we can to help put people in a situation where they can find a job. People below the age of 30 are, we think, in a much better position to connect with the labour market. We all know that the longer someone is out of work the harder it is for them to get into work. We make no apology for the fact that we will be requiring people to undertake job interviews. We make no apology for the fact that we will be requiring people to directly seek to engage with employers. They will be required to do whatever they can to seek employment. We do not think that is a bad thing; we think that is a good thing.