Media Release by Senator the Hon Anne Ruston

Suspension of mutual obligation requirements for Western Australian regions affected by Ex-Tropical Cyclone Seroja

Joint Media Release with:

  • The Hon Stuart Robert MP
    Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business

    The Hon Ken Wyatt AM MP
    Minister for Indigenous Australians

The Australian Government has suspended mutual obligation requirements for job seekers in regions affected by Ex-Tropical Cylone Seroja.

This includes the Greater Geraldton Local Government Area (LGA) and in the Community Development Program (CDP) regions of Kambalda/Norseman and Mid-West/West Western Australia.

The suspension is from Monday, 12 April to Tuesday, 20 April 2021 inclusive.

No job seeker in the affected LGA or CDP regions will face payment suspension or financial penalties for failing to meet their mutual obligation requirements such as not being able to attend appointments or activities.

Job seekers are encouraged to remain connected to employment services, where possible, to ensure they are supported to access the full range of assistance including mental health services, if required.

These arrangements will apply to job seekers in jobactive, Online Employment Services, Disability Employment Services and participants in ParentsNext and the Community Development Program.

The Government will continue to closely monitor the situation in Western Australia as it looks to rebuild and recover.

More information about mutual obligation requirements for jobactive, Online Employment Services, and participants in ParentsNext can be found at www.dese.gov.au/covid-19/job-seekers.