Interview - Channel 7, Sunrise with Natalie Barr and Matt Doran
E&OE-------------------------------------
MATT DORAN:
Well, the Federal Government is cracking down on jobseekers who aren't meeting their obligations. New data this morning shows 240 people are under investigation for things like submitting inappropriate job applications or failing to attend for job interviews.
NATALIE BARR:
Businesses are being encouraged to tip off questionable behaviour using the new Employer Reporting Line. For example, one vet from Victoria reported 13 people had applied for a job without meeting the necessary education qualifications.
For more we're joined by Employment Minister, Stuart Robert. Morning to you.
MINISTER ROBERT:
Good morning.
NATALIE BARR:
So 1.1 million people, I think, or roughly on JobSeeker; 240 people reported. That means the majority of people, I guess, doing the right thing?
MINISTER ROBERT:
I think most Australians always do the right thing, Natalie, but we’ve still got 300,000 Australians not working, more than pre-COVID, and we desperately want them to work. And there’s only a small proportion doing the wrong thing, but we have an expectation that Australians will stump up and those who aren't, I’m saying to employers, get on the line and let us know.
MATT DORAN:
So Minister, what’s the litmus test here? Again, I mean, how much evidence do you need, I guess, to prove that somebody is doing the wrong thing? And then beyond that, what sort of penalties could they face?
MINISTER ROBERT:
Employees will call the reporting line, 1300 361 241, and let us know if someone hasn’t turned up for a job, if their application, for example, the vet you spoke of, you have to be a vet, you can’t be a massage therapist. I’m not letting you operate on my cat. Let us know about those inconsistencies, about people who turn up wearing a superman suit to an interview. And if they’re on benefits, we’ll intervene.
NATALIE BARR:
I do hear people say in regional areas, sometimes, you know, you have to apply for a certain amount of jobs per month, that can be a bit stiff – the number of applications you have to make, in a small area where there aren't that many jobs.
MINISTER ROBERT:
And there’ll be changes coming through with the new employment services model that we’ll release to the market shortly, but right now, you have to apply for 15 roles. Now, the department will be sensible but people need to be intentional. There's lots of people in Victoria now wishing they could work right now in the CBD, and there are others who are just taking this for a ride.
MATT DORAN:
Minister, can I ask you about the JobSeeker rate? Currently it’s around $44 a day, which is below the generally agreed upon poverty line in Australia which is $65 a day. Do you think it needs to be increased?
MINISTER ROBERT:
Well we have. The first increase in 30 years. $9 billion worth of taxpayers’ money announced in the budget to get the rate for single no children to $620.80. That’s a substantial increase. That’s $9 billion of taxpayers' money that we’ve already put in to increasing that rate.
NATALIE BARR:
But still, 44, it’s not a lot of money is it?
MINISTER ROBERT:
$9 billion of taxpayers’ money is a lot of money as well. Job adverts right now at the highest level in 12 years. 254,000 job adverts right now for Australians to lean into.
MATT DORAN:
So the- for the people who are struggling on that rate and are listening to you say that it’s enough. Would you say that they’re wrong?
MINISTER ROBERT:
I’m saying that we’ve put $9 billion of taxpayers’ money into it. And remember, the $620.80 for single no children, that excludes other supplements, it excludes Commonwealth Rent Assistance. The vast majority of Australians are on more than one payment.
NATALIE BARR:
Okay. Stuart Robert, thanks for explaining it this morning.