Employment and Workplace Relations
Australian Federal Police — workers compensation for approved overseas deployment
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Veterans' Affairs | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.8 |
| Comcare | -1.2 | -1.4 | -1.6 | -1.7 |
| Total | 0.1 | -0.2 | -0.1 | 0.1 |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Department of Veterans' Affairs | 0.4 | - | - | - |
The Government will improve compensation coverage for Australian Federal Police (AFP) members on approved overseas deployments. This will involve the provision of $6.1 million over four years (including $0.4 million in capital) to the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA). Funding for this initiative is offset by reductions in Comcare's expenses of $5.8 million over four years as DVA will now administer benefits for AFP members on approved overseas deployments.
Comcare currently administers the Safety and Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 benefits for Australian Government employees, including AFP personnel. These arrangements will continue for AFP members not on approved overseas deployments.
Further information on this measure can be found in the press release of 27 February 2006 issued by the Minister for Justice and Customs.
Cyclone Larry — wage assistance programme
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | 37.4 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide funding of $124.3 million over two years (including $86.9 million in 2005-06) for a wage subsidy of $400 per fortnight for each full-time employee for businesses and farms in Queensland affected by Cyclone Larry.
The wage subsidy will allow employers to retain their employees in the clean-up and re-establishment phase and help prevent an exodus of workers. Employers who qualify for the Australian Government Business Assistance Fund tax-free grants will be eligible for this wage subsidy. The payment will be for a period of 13 weeks.
Further information can be found in the press release of 4 April 2006 issued by the Prime Minister and the website www.disasterassist.gov.au.
Employer roundtable for people with disabilities — response to recommendations
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | 0.7 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 2.3 |
The Government will provide $6.8 million over four years in response to recommendations of the Employer Roundtable for People with Disabilities, established as part of the 2005-06 Budget measure Welfare to Work — assistance for employers.
Access to Auslan interpreter services will be available to assist 500 people with hearing impairments into work, and deafness awareness training programmes will be available to 600 workplaces.
The Supported Wage System will be expanded with an additional 400 new places in 2006-07 and 500 new places per year from 2007-08. The Supported Wage System provides employment opportunities for people who cannot work at full productivity because of a disability.
The disability information and advisory service, funding for which was provided in the 2005-06 Budget measure Welfare to Work — assistance for employers, will also be expanded to provide a more comprehensive advice service for employers.
Departmental costs of $2.4 million over four years to implement this measure will be met from existing resources within the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.
Employment services — access for Age Pensioners
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | 0.4 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 |
The Government will provide $10.9 million over four years to expand access to employment services through the Job Network for those Age Pensioners who want to return to the workforce. An additional 2,500 places in Employment Preparation and Job Search Training will be created to assist those receiving the Age Pension. An enhanced Job Seeker Account, with an additional $200 per person above the standard account, will be available for Job Network providers to purchase a range of services and training.
This measure includes $0.2 million over four years for Centrelink to manage referrals to Job Network.
Further information can be found in the press release of 28 March 2006 issued by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.
Independent contractors — communications and compliance
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | 5.5 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 3.6 |
The Government will provide $15.0 million over four years to support proposed legislative changes to protect the status of independent contractors. This will include an information and education campaign, as well as additional resourcing for the Office of Workplace Services to investigate cases where it is alleged or suspected that employment arrangements are disguised as contract relationships.
This fulfils the election commitment, Stronger Economy, Stronger Australia — Protecting and Supporting Independent Contractors, announced by the Government on 26 September 2004.
Job Network — eligibility for adult prisoners
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | 0.4 | - | - | - |
The Government will extend full Job Network eligibility to adult prisoners in pre-release centres who are available for work on partial or day release at a cost of $0.6 million over four years. The measure provides earlier access to Job Network to increase employment rates of people leaving prison and reduce their reliance on welfare. Approximately 400 prisoners a year are expected to benefit from this measure. This measure has one-off costs in 2006-07 because it provides earlier assistance to people leaving prison, but does not change the number of people accessing employment services or the length of time that individuals have access to services.
Departmental costs of $0.2 million associated with implementing this measure will be met from existing resources within the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.
Principal carers — assistance
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | - | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 |
The Government will provide $1.8 million over three years from 1 July 2007 to support principal carers of children who do not currently receive Parenting Payment or the 'with child' rate of Newstart Allowance. A small but significant number of parents leave their children in the care of relatives or others who do not receive child related income support. This measure seeks to ensure that child related income support payments go to the person who provides the majority of the care for the child.
The implementation costs of this measure will be met from Centrelink's and the Department of Employment and Workplace Relation's existing resources.
Unpaid work experience — job opportunities for highly disadvantaged job seekers
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
The Government will provide $1.2 million over four years to provide insurance coverage for 70,000 highly disadvantaged job seekers when they participate in short periods of part-time unpaid work experience. The unpaid work experience will be managed by Job Network, Disability Open Employment Services, and vocational rehabilitation providers.
The departmental costs of this measure will be offset from existing resources within the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.
Utilities Allowance — extension and one-off payment to allowees with long term barriers to employment
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | 7.5 | 7.1 | 6.5 | 6.4 |
From 1 July 2006, the Government will extend eligibility for Utilities Allowance to people receiving Mature Age Allowance, Partner Allowance and Widow Allowance at a cost of $27.6 million over four years.
In addition, the Government will provide $8.0 million in 2005-06 to extend the one-off payment equal to the maximum rate of Utilities Allowance ($102.80) provided in the related measure Older Australians — payment of one-off bonus to each household with a person eligible for Mature Age Allowance, Partner Allowance or Widow Allowance on 9 May 2006.
See also the related expense measure Older Australians — payment of one-off bonus in the Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs portfolio.
Vocational Rehabilitation and Disability Open Employment Services — maintain funding
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $172.8 million over three years to continue to fund the additional places in Vocational Rehabilitation and Disability Open Employment services announced in the 2001-02 Budget as part of the Australians Working Together package of measures, A better deal for people with disabilities and A fair go for mature age workers.
This measure involves funding of $55.6 million in 2006-07, $57.6 million in 2007-08 and $59.6 million in 2008-09. Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates.
This measure lapses on 30 June 2009 and its review will be incorporated into a broader review of all new service places to be considered in the 2008-09 Budget.
Voluntary work initiative — maintain funding
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $4.2 million over two years to continue funding for the expansion of the Voluntary Work Initiative announced in the Australians Working Together package in the 2001-02 Budget. The Voluntary Work Initiative assists the take-up and effectiveness of volunteer work among income support customers by providing assessment, referral and placement services for individuals, as well as training for organisations in volunteer management. This programme lapses on 30 June 2008 and will be reviewed as part of a broader review of volunteer programmes considered in the 2007-08 Budget.
This measure involves funding of $2.1 million per year in 2006-07 and 2007-08. Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates.
Welfare to Work — Employment Entry Payment
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
The Government will extend Employment Entry Payment eligibility to income support recipients who gain employment while serving an eight week non-payment period, at an estimated cost of $1.4 million over four years. This will provide an incentive to participate in the labour market for people serving a non-payment period for failing to meet participation requirements.
This measure includes funding of $0.6 million over four years for Centrelink to administer the measure.
Welfare to Work — extend Pharmaceutical Allowance to Parenting Payment Partnered recipients with a temporary incapacity
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.8 |
The Government will provide $3.4 million over four years to extend the Pharmaceutical Allowance to Parenting Payment Partnered recipients who commenced payment before 1 July 2006 and who have an exemption from participation requirements due to temporary incapacity. This will provide Parenting Payment Partnered recipients with the same access to Pharmaceutical Allowance as is accorded to other income support recipients with a temporary incapacity.
Welfare to Work — financial case management for income support recipients
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | 3.8 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.2 |
The Government will provide $17.1 million over five years (including $0.9 million in 2005-06) to implement financial case management arrangements for income support recipients serving a non-payment period.
Financial case management will assist individuals with the payment of essential expenses and will be available to those recipients who have children or other vulnerable dependents, or who are, themselves, considered exceptionally vulnerable. It is expected that between 4,000 and 5,000 people per year will access financial case management.
Under the arrangements, Centrelink will use the funding to contract non-government organisations to establish, on a week by week basis, the level of assistance required by individuals. Funding was provided as part of the 2005-06 Budget measure Welfare to Work — an improved compliance framework to assist with eligible individuals' essential living expenses.
Welfare to Work — Newstart and Youth Allowance rates for bereaved single parents
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | .. | .. | .. | .. |
The Government will maintain the 'with child' rates of payment for Newstart Allowance and Youth Allowance (Other) for 14 weeks to single parents in the circumstance that their child passes away. This measure will cost $16,000 over four years and bring these payments into line with the treatment accorded to Parenting Payment Single recipients in the same situation.
Workers' compensation — changes for Commonwealth employees
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Ageing | 0.9 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.6 |
| Comcare | -1.1 | -5.6 | -8.3 | -10.5 |
| Total | -0.1 | -4.4 | -6.9 | -8.9 |
The Government will amend the Safety Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (SRC Act) to implement a number of changes to workers' compensation arrangements applying to Australian Government employees.
The measure will:
- strengthen the link between work and eligibility for workers' compensation by requiring a more robust causal connection between the workplace and injury, and removing coverage for journeys to and from work as well as during recess breaks that occur outside an employer's control;
- increase the maximum level of funeral benefits payable from $4,760 to $9,000 indexed to inflation;
- reduce the deemed interest rate applied to lump sum superannuation payments from ten per cent to six per cent, resulting in increased incapacity benefits; and
- correct minor technical anomalies in the SRC Act to ensure its efficient administration.
The measure is expected to lead to a reduction in Comcare claims of $25.5 million over four years, and a cost of $5.1 million over four years related to increased Medicare claims, pharmaceutical benefits and private health insurance rebates.
Workplace Relations Reform — targeted education activities
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide an additional $7.3 million in 2005-06 for education activities to explain the workplace relations reforms.
The measure includes funding for an employer advisor programme to be delivered through industry and employer associations. The programme will develop a national network of industry-based advisors who will educate and assist employers on the application of the reforms.
The measure also includes funding to the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations for educational seminars, information guides and research activities.
Further information can be found in the press release of 25 January 2006 issued by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.