Media Release by Senator the Hon Anne Ruston

Suspension of mutual obligation requirements for job seekers and participants in Queensland

Joint Media Release with:

  • Honourable Stuart Robert
    Honourable Ken Wyatt

The Morrison Government has suspended mutual obligation requirements for employment services participants in Queensland in the Local Government Areas of Townsville, Palm Island, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Moreton Bay, Noosa, Redland, Scenic Rim, Somerset and Sunshine Coast.

The temporary suspension of mutual obligation requirements for employment services participants in these areas will be in place from today, Tuesday 29 June until Tuesday 6 July 2021 inclusive.

No employment services participant in the affected Local Government Areas 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, or not meeting their Job Search requirement if it is due while mutual obligation requirements are suspended.

Where it is safe to do so in line with health advice, employment services participants can engage with their employment services provider.

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

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