Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business) Share this | Hansard source

In the first instance, I can assure you that no jobseeker is penalised for wanting to move provider. In fact, the transparency of the five-star rating system ensures that a jobseeker is able to go online and compare their providers, and, if they see there's a better provider, or if they want to move because another provider is closer to where they're located, they are able to do this. At the same time, they are then entitled to the same level of service. So you can absolutely go back to your constituent and advise them that they are able to transfer. There are mechanisms available to the constituent in the event that they do want to. They can call the department's national customer service line. The department will actually assist them in changing over providers and, again, they will ensure that, if they do want to change providers or if they identify that they're not quite sure which provider they can go to, that assistance will be given and there is no penalty.