Chris Ellison (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Hansard source

As I said, I will get the details that Senator Siewert wants. But can I say that we do have significant additional resources committed to our participation solution teams and also to our area participation teams. It is important that we get people back to work where they possibly can. If they need more extensive and intensive engagement, we do that through our job capacity assessment and they can be dealt with by the Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service or other providers. Certainly I understand Senator Siewert’s interest in the numbers. I will get that for the Senate. The important thing is the benefit that Welfare to Work is providing in finding outcomes for people by getting them back to work. We have seen that today with the increase in participation rate and unemployment falling to record 30-year lows—4.3 per cent today, a great result.