Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator O'Sullivan for the question. Clearly, the settings of the Remote Jobs and Communities Program introduced by the former government in July 2013 were not good. Some 60 per cent of the job seekers in remote communities return to sit-down money. That is not a partisan comment. I really understand and respect the difficulties that they had at that particular time. It demonstrates why we had a need for this government to instigate the Forrest review and refocus our efforts on ensuring training leads to real job outcomes. Applying the mainstream style employment models in remote areas that have limited or no real labour markets clearly fails. If people can work, they should. If jobs are not available, then people should undertake meaningful activity that builds their skills and contributes to their community.

An overhaul of the RJCP is underway to produce real long-term outcomes in remote communities. These reforms will commence from 1 July 2015 and will help build work ethics, skills and experience for job seekers that will lead to employment. The reforms are tailored to the unique social and labour market conditions in remote areas and will apply to all job seekers, whether they are Indigenous or not. Adults between 18 and 49 years who are not in work or study will undertake work for the dole for under 25 hours a week, five days a week, all year round. Work-for-the-dole job plans will be individually tailored to job seekers to provide a pathway to employment and will comprise all activities needed to meet their participation requirement. Twenty five million dollars will be provided each year to support the establishment of local businesses to provide job seekers with real work experience and, ultimately, real jobs in remote communities. At the same time there will be strong incentives for providers to find people jobs and for employers to employ Aboriginal Australians.