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

This year's budget is seeking to provide a better deal for young people to release them from a life on welfare and to realise their potential. Around one in five young Australians are not fully engaged in either work or study. Particularly worrying are figures that show that young people account for around 30 per cent of long-term unemployed.

The government does not think it is unreasonable to expect job-ready job seekers to complete certain pre-benefit activities, such as attending meetings with their jobactive provider, agreeing to a job plan, developing an up-to-date resume, creating a job-seeker profile and providing evidence of job applications in order to receive a benefit. The government recognises that some people affected by an extended waiting period may require assistance, and therefore we are providing approximately $8.4 million for additional emergency relief services for under-25s affected.