Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

All I can really do is restate to colleagues what the budget measures were. Namely, from 1 January 2015 young unemployed people aged 22 to 24 will no longer be eligible for Newstart or sickness allowance. Instead, they will be eligible for youth allowance (student) or youth allowance (other) until they turn 25 years of age. Also from 1 January 2015 all new job seekers up to 30 years of age claiming Newstart and youth allowance (other) will be subject to a six-month waiting period during which time the job seeker must demonstrate appropriate job search activities and must participate in employment support services. After the six-month waiting period, job seekers would be eligible to receive income support for six months subject to participation in 25 hours per week of Work for the Dole. Job seekers will receive income support for six months in every 12-month period. That is what was announced at the budget and that is our policy.