Mutual obligation makes difficult lives doubly hard

Other groups of jobless people being denied the employment assistance they need, include many sole parents on waiting lists for a place in the Jobs Education and Training scheme, and tens of thousands of people with disabilities waiting for a place in an open employment or rehabilitation scheme.

There are also major problems in administration, with hundreds of thousands of unemployed people automatically being referred (by computer) to programs such as Job Search Training, Work for the Dole, and Intensive Assistance - without even an interview to assess their current employment and training needs and options.

We estimate that around $1 billion would be needed to provide an effective package of employment support.

This would guarantee more effective employment assistance for all welfare recipients who have been seeking work for more than a year.

It would also ensure more investment in job generation and services to remove workforce barriers such as lack of affordable housing and child care, and the costs of disability.

The McClure Report also argued for business and local communities to lift their game and contribute their fair share to those who are jobless. For example, business could do much more to overcome the discrimination against and barriers facing people with disabilities who want to work.

It is unfortunate that the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) quickly responded to the Government's welfare reform statement by rejecting a part for business in helping jobless people.

We urge ACCI to look again at a role for their members in supporting the long-term jobless back into work by tackling discrimination in the labour market.

Budget commitments

By the time of the May Budget we also hope that the Government will commit to lifting social security payments above the poverty line.

Unemployment benefits are now only $172 a week - $20 below even the modest Age Pension. This amount is so low that unemployed people have trouble meeting basic living costs such as rent and food, let alone covering the added expenses of applying for jobs such as transport, phone, clothing and resume costs.

Further action is also needed to remove the worst poverty traps for welfare recipients with part-time or casual work.

Reinstatement of a "Transition Bank", as announced by Minister Newman last week is a start.