17th Mar 2021, 1:01 PM – Representatives Social Services Legislation Amendment (Strengthening Income Support) Bill 2021 - Consideration in Detail - Mutual obligation

The majority voted in favour of disagreeing with an amendment introduced by Barton MP Linda Burney (Labor), which means it failed.

Ms Burney explained that:

Labor believes in mutual obligation. The government's proposed changes to mutual obligation will only make those requirements more punitive. They have always been punitive under this government. Mutual obligation should be about keeping workers engaged with the workforce. It should be about assisting workers to get back into jobs. But mutual obligation has been weaponised by this government to punish workers looking for work.

Amendment text

(1) Schedule 1, page 22 (after line 18), at the end of the Schedule, add:

Part 6—Mutual obligation

Social Security (Administration) Act 1999

40 At the end of Subdivision A of Division 3AA of Part 3

Add:

42ABA General principles

(1) The Secretary must exercise his or her mutual obligation powers consistently with the following principles:

(a) the purpose of the powers is to help persons to get:

(i) jobs; or

(ii) the skills necessary to get jobs;

(b) the powers are intended to be used as part of a mutual arrangement in which the Commonwealth undertakes a reciprocal obligation to help the persons to find work;

(c) in exercising the powers in relation to a person, the Secretary must take into account:

(i) the availability of suitable jobs; and

(ii) the person's skills and abilities; and

(iii) the person's personal circumstances including caring responsibilities, access to transport, medical conditions and disability;

(d) the exercise of the powers must not cause unnecessary annoyance or burden for employers.

(2) The Secretary's mutual obligation powers are his or her powers under:

(a) this Division, to the extent it relates to mutual obligation failures; or

(b) a provision mentioned in section 42AC (mutual obligation failures).

42ABB Employment pathway plans

An employment pathway plan in relation to a person must state what the Commonwealth will do to help the person secure employment.