AYAC News

AYAC calls on the government to rethink its punitive approach to vulnerable Australians in the welfare system.

On 17 June, the Government announced that Social Security Legislation Amendment (Jobseeker Compliance) Bill 2011 was passed by the Parliament. We know that young people and newly arrived migrants are two groups who are most affected by these changes.

AYAC calls on the government to rethink its punitive approach to vulnerable Australians in the welfare system.

The Government announced today that Social Security Legislation Amendment (Jobseeker Compliance) Bill 2011 was passed by the Parliament. AYAC rejects the claim that this bill aims at 'helping more Australians get back into work.'

We know that young people and newly arrived migrants are two groups who are most affected by these changes.

AYAC, along with other non-government organisations, is part of the Centrelink Working Group on Jobseeker Compliance investigating the reasons and barriers certain groups face in attending Centrelink interviews. The findings of this group will be available shortly.

AYAC believes the welfare system should move away from a punitive model to one that enables vulnerable groups to understand and be supported by the system.