Penny Allman-Payne (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Watt. Hundreds of thousands of people on income support are being forced to spend their limited incomes travelling to appointments, Work for the Dole sites and other compulsory activities under a welfare compliance regime that multiple reports have found is both counterproductive and legally dubious. During previous crises, governments have sensibly paused so-called mutual obligations to lift the burden on people most at risk. Given fuel prices are skyrocketing and welfare recipients are once again bearing the brunt of economic upheaval, will the government suspend mutual obligations and give relief to people forced to live on below-the-poverty-line payments?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Allman-Payne. I should have indicated to the chamber that Senator Payman passed that question on to Senator Allman-Payne. Minister Watt.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks, Senator Allman-Payne. I think for some time now we've understood that there is a difference of position between the government and the Labor Party and the Greens party when it comes to mutual obligations. It is the policy of our government that we stand by the concept of mutual obligations, which involves the community generally, through the government, providing training and work opportunities to those who are unemployed, but there is an expectation from the community that unemployed people seek to find work as well. That's essentially what it comes down to. I know the Greens don't support that position. They never have supported that position, but that is a position that we think is supported by the vast majority of the Australian population.

Of course, this government has increased support payments, whether it be to unemployed people—as was very much necessary. We've increased support payments to single mothers. We've increased support payments to a wide variety of Australians who are doing it tough.

 Remote workers as well, Senator McCarthy reminds me—in addition to the range of other cost-of-living relief that we have provided to Australians. We will continue to stand by Australians who are looking for work and provide them with the support they require.

You might think that is funny, but that's something that we're prepared to do.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McKim, I've asked you to come to order. Senator Allman-Payne, first supplementary?

Penny Allman-Payne (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is clear and longstanding evidence that private job providers frequently exercise their power over welfare recipients in ways that are harmful, including payment suspensions. Advocates are now telling me that, despite the current crisis, many job providers are still refusing phone appointments, forcing welfare recipients to travel. How bad does the fuel crisis need to get before the government considers suspending compulsory obligations?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am aware, especially from my time as the minister for employment, that there have been occasions where service providers have not done the right thing by those who are looking for work. As a government, we've taken action against those providers who have done so. What we're also doing, led by Minister Rishworth, is a very large-scale reform of the employment services system in Australia, in recognition—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Wong?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

President, point of order on disorderly conduct. Senator McKim continues to interject. The minister is treating this question with a great deal of respect; he is seeking to answer it. Senator McKim has not let up in his interjections. I ask that you call him to order.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McKim, I will call you to order again, and I expect you to be silent for the next 36 seconds.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What I was saying is that Minister Rishworth is leading what will end up being a large-scale reform of our employment services system in Australia, in recognition that the current system is certainly not working for jobseekers and it's not working for employers or service providers either. Over time, I'm sure Minister Rishworth will have more to say about that matter, but, in the meantime, we will continue taking action against those service providers who do the wrong thing by job seekers.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Allman-Payne, second supplementary?

Penny Allman-Payne (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

During the pandemic, the government not only suspended mutual obligations but also doubled the rate of JobSeeker, lifting hundreds of thousands out of poverty and saving lives. Given that the war Labor supports has triggered a global fuel crisis, will you take responsibility to protect those most at risk from this crisis by raising the rate of all Centrelink payments above the poverty line?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I don't think it's quite right to draw the connection between the experience people were having working, not being able to get to work or not being able to work during the COVID period and the situation that we're going through at the moment. There is no doubt that people are doing it tough as a result of the increase to fuel prices. That's why the government, in the last couple of days, announced the halving of the petrol excise in recognition that people are doing it tough and need support. That's, of course, in addition to the range of other cost-of-living support that this government has provided. As I mentioned in my last answer, as a government, we've also increased the JobSeeker payment. We've increased payments to single mothers, and any further decisions will always be made in the context of our budget.