Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Hansard source

Yes, I am. Work for the Dole is of course the centrepiece of the new mutual obligation arrangements that form part of the government's jobactive program. My department has carried out an evaluation of Work for the Dole participants who are undertaking the pilot programs. Some of the results of this evaluation have been recently released, and they showed that 78 per cent of participants said they had had the opportunity to learn new skills; 79 per cent agreed that routine in getting up every day and going to work was actually good for them; 81 per cent of participants said that they were treated like a valuable member of staff. Participants also said that they had learnt and/or developed soft skills such as confidence, self-esteem, teamwork, communication and improved workplace behaviour.

Work for the Dole recognises the principle that unemployed people should be working, preferably for a wage but, if not, then for the dole. It is the people who have participated— (Time expired)