Red tape cuts will deliver a more efficient and effective job services system

Assistant Minister for Employment Luke Hartsuyker today announced further red tape cuts, freeing up job services providers to help more job seekers find work.

Mr Hartsuyker said the latest round of red tape cuts would reduce paperwork and renew the focus on delivering better employment outcomes.

“These measures are part of the Coalition Government’s commitment to cut $1 billion in red tape,” Mr Hartsuyker said.

“Over the last six years Labor had the opportunity to improve Job Services Australia (JSA), but instead loaded up the system with more red tape and paperwork. Peak bodies have told me that frontline staff spend up to 50 per cent of their time on administration.

"I am determined to reduce the bureaucratic burden on JSA providers. The primary focus of job providers must be to place job seekers into work—not fill out more forms.

"These changes are in response to the feedback I have received from providers and will deliver a more efficient job services system."

Under the reforms announced today, JSA providers will no longer need to collect documentary evidence from employers or job seekers to verify a person’s employment.

Instead, from 1 July 2014, the Department of Employment will use the information already collected by the Department of Human Services regarding a person’s earnings and hours of employment. It is estimated that this will save more than $13 million per annum in red tape costs for employers and providers.

Other new red tape cuts include:

• simplifying the paperwork for employers who give a job seeker the opportunity to work
• using technology to get job seekers to agree to their Employment Pathway Plan
• streamlining the number of special claims for provider payments
• publishing weekly rather than ad-hoc web-based news updates.

Mr Hartsuyker said the changes followed red tape cuts which he announced last November.

"The November reforms included extending the timeframe providers have to lodge certain claims and abolishing the need for providers to retain paper copies of their records. Overall, good progress is being made on removing inefficiencies in the system,” Mr Hartsuyker said.

"For example, as part of our determination to make it easier for providers to find up-to-date information, there has been an almost 15 per cent reduction in the volume of JSA programme documents published by the Department of Employment since November 2013.

"In total, it is estimated all the red tape reforms announced to date represent a saving of more than $23 million for employers and JSA providers.

"The Coalition Government is delivering on our election commitment to reduce red tape and will continue to do so as part of the employment services contracts for 2015 onwards.”