Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

In respect of the hardship provisions, I can indicate the government does not support the Greens amendments. These amendments are not supported, primarily, as the length of the penalty is really in the hands of the job seeker. A job seeker who meets their participation requirements will incur no further penalty. These matters, of course, are then also kicked into the CCA eventually, so the process is there. It is, quite frankly, a good process and certainly an improvement in the regime. It is clearly designed to encourage the jobseeker to engage in seeking employment and remaining in employment.