Employment and Workplace Relations
General Employee Enititlements and Redundancy Scheme — continuation
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $215.2 million over three years from 2006-07 to continue funding for the General Employee Entitlements and Redundancy Scheme (GEERS). GEERS provides assistance to employees who lose their entitlements due to their employer becoming insolvent or bankrupt.
This measure involves funding of $70.5 million in 2006-07, $71.5 million in 2007-08, and $73.2 million in 2008-09. Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates.
Further information can be found in the press release of 12 October 2005 issued by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.
General Employee Entitlements and Redundancy Scheme — extended eligibility
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | 2.0 | 20.3 | 20.4 | 19.6 |
The Government will increase the range of entitlements available under the General Employee Entitlements and Redundancy Scheme (GEERS) at an estimated cost of $62.3 million over four years. Employees who lose their entitlements due to their employer becoming insolvent or bankrupt will be eligible to seek an enhanced range of assistance from GEERS. The enhanced entitlements include:
- assistance for underpaid wages in the three month period prior to the date of employer insolvency;
- assistance that recognises claimants’ entitlement to notice of termination under their terms of employment or industrial instrument;
- coverage of employees who resigned or were terminated up to six months prior to the date of employer insolvency; and
- provision of limited assistance for previously ineligible claimants resulting from aligning the definition of ‘excluded employees’ under GEERS with the definition contained in section 556(1) of the Corporations Act 2001.
Further information can be found in the press release of 12 October 2005 issued by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.
Indigenous Land Reform — Home Ownership on Indigenous Land Programme
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indigenous Business Australia | .. | .. | - | - |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Indigenous Business Australia | - | - | - | - |
Funding of $7.3 million over two years will be redirected to pilot a flexible grant and loan financing programme to assist Indigenous people to purchase a home on Indigenous land.
Total funding of $7.3 million comprises $60,000 over two years in additional resources, with the remaining $7.2 million to be contributed from existing funding ($1.7 million from Indigenous Business Australia, $3.0 million from the Indigenous Land Corporation and $2.5 million from the Aboriginals Benefit Account).
The pilot will promote Indigenous home ownership on Indigenous land through the provision of discounted interest rates, low deposit requirements, up-front grants and ongoing periodic grants.
See also the related expense measures titled Indigenous Land Reform — Home Ownership Incentive Scheme in the Family and Community Services portfolio and Indigenous Land Reform — Northern Territory township tenure in the Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs portfolio.
Further information can be found in the press release of 5 October 2005 issued by the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs.
Job Placement, Employment and Training Programme — maintain funding
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $62.5 million over three years to extend the Job Placement, Employment and Training (JPET) Programme.
The JPET Programme assists highly disadvantaged young people aged 15-21 years who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness, to overcome their barriers so they can move into employment, education or training.
This measure involves funding of $20.3 million in 2006-07, $20.6 million in 2007-08 and $21.6 million in 2008‑09. Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates.
Further information can be found in the press release of 27 September 2005 issued by the Minister for Workforce Participation.
Occupational Health and Safety (Commonwealth Employment) Act 1991 —enhanced enforcement capacity
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comcare | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
The Government will provide $200,000 per annum on an ongoing basis from 2005-06 to enhance Comcare’s capacity to undertake regulatory activities under the Occupational Health and Safety (Commonwealth Employment) Act 1991. This measure will allow Comcare to enforce expanded compliance provisions that aim to reduce workplace injuries to Commonwealth employees by promoting adherence to occupational health and safety requirements by both Commonwealth employers and employees.
Parenting Payment (Partnered) — extended eligibility for certain step-parents
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
The Government will extend eligibility for Parenting Payment (Partnered) to step-parents with primary care for their step-children at a cost of $0.7 million over four years, including $0.3 million for Centrelink to implement the change.
This measure will extend eligibility for Parenting Payment (Partnered) from 1 July 2006 to a number of step‑parents who are currently ineligible because their step-children do not meet the definition of ‘dependent child’ under the Social Security Act 1991.
Further information can be found in the press release of 25 November 2005 issued by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.
Parenting Payment (Partnered) — extending advance payments
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | - | 4.7 | 0.6 | -0.1 |
The Government will provide $5.2 million over three years to extend access to advance payments to Parenting Payment (Partnered) recipients. This will provide low income partnered parents with access to interest-free loans of up to $500 in a 12 month period to meet large or bulky expenditures and will ensure consistency with other income support recipients.
Further information can be found in the press release of 25 November 2005 issued by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.
South Australian automotive workers — labour adjustment fund
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | 5.0 | 1.9 | 0.5 | - |
The Government will provide funding of $7.5 million over three years for a labour adjustment fund to ameliorate the impact of the decision by General Motors Holden to scale back its operations in South Australia.
The funding is for labour market assistance to workers made redundant as a result of General Motors Holden’s restructure, including workers of relevant suppliers. This funding will provide accelerated access to a range of labour market assistance services provided by the Job Network, including job search training, enhanced access to the job seeker account and relocation assistance.
Further information can be found in the press release of 26 August 2005 issued by the Prime Minister.
Welfare to Work — expanded eligibility for Employment Entry Payment
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | 1.9 | 5.0 | 3.5 | 3.0 |
The Government will expand eligibility to the Employment Entry Payment to certain income support recipients who find sustained part time work at a cost of $13.4 million over four years. The following individuals will be eligible for the payment if they have been receiving income support for at least 12 months and find work of 15 hours or more per week for a period of at least four weeks:
- recipients of Newstart Allowance and Youth Allowance (Other) with a 15-29 hour capacity to work will have access to a $312 payment; and
- recipients of Parenting Payment and parents receiving Newstart Allowance or Youth Allowance (Other) with a requirement to seek work of 15 hours or more per week will have access to a $104 payment.
This measure will begin on 1 July 2006 and builds on the significant assistance provided to parents and people with disabilities in the Welfare to Work package announced in the 2005-06 Budget.
Further information can be found in the press release of 21 September 2005 issued by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.
Welfare to Work — expanded eligibility for the higher rate of Mobility Allowance
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | - | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.4 |
The Government will extend eligibility for the higher rate of Mobility Allowance to certain Newstart and Youth Allowance (Other) recipients at a cost of $1.0 million over three years from 1 July 2006. Those income support recipients with an assessed work capacity of 30 hours a week or more, who are working or seeking work of 30 hours or more with an employment services provider and are unable to use public transport without assistance, will receive the higher rate of Mobility Allowance.
The introduction of the higher rate of Mobility Allowance was announced as part of the Welfare to Work package in the 2005-06 Budget and will be $100 per fortnight from 1 July 2006.
Further information can be found in the press release of 21 September 2005 issued by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.
Welfare to Work — extended eligibility for Parenting Payment (Single)
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | - | 8.0 | 24.9 | 43.3 |
| Department of Family and Community Services | - | -0.5 | -1.6 | -2.7 |
| Department of Education, Science and Training | - | -1.7 | -5.6 | -9.1 |
| Total | - | 5.9 | 17.8 | 31.5 |
The Government will extend the eligibility for Parenting Payment (Single) to recipients until their youngest child turns eight years of age at a cost of $55.2 million over three years.
Parents applying for Parenting Payment (Single) on or after 1 July 2006 will receive Parenting Payment while their youngest child is less than eight years old. Once their youngest child turns six, this group will be subject to an obligation to seek work of at least 15 hours per week.
This measure builds on the significant assistance provided to parents in the Welfare to Work package announced in the 2005-06 Budget.
See also the related expense measures titled Welfare to Work — increasing participation of parents and Welfare to Work — higher rate of Newstart and Youth Allowance (Other) for certain sole parents.
Further information can be found in the press release of 8 November 2005 issued by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.
Welfare to Work — higher rate of Newstart and Youth Allowance (Other) for certain sole parents
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | 0.4 | 2.3 | 3.8 | 7.6 |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Centrelink | 0.6 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide sole parents receiving Newstart or Youth Allowance (Other) with exemptions from participation requirements where they have four or more children aged between six and fifteen, or are either a registered and active foster carer, providing home schooling or facilitating distance education. These parents will also be eligible to receive total payments equal to the payment under Parenting Payment (Single) for the period of the exemption at an estimated cost of $14.7 million over three years. Parents with children aged over six years receiving Parenting Payment will also be eligible for these exemptions. This includes Centrelink funding of $1.2 million over four years including $0.6 million in capital funding in 2005-06 to implement this measure.
This measure will begin on 1 July 2006 and will build on the significant assistance provided to parents in the Welfare to Work package announced in the 2005-06 Budget.
See also the related expense measure Welfare to Work — Changes to eligibility for Parenting Payment (Single) and the 2005-06 Budget expense measure titled Welfare to Work — increasing participation of parents.
Further information can be found in the press release of 8 November 2005 issued jointly by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and the Minister for Workforce Participation and the press release of 5 December 2005 issued by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.
Welfare to Work — modification to compliance regime
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | - | 3.1 | 12.8 | 14.6 |
The Government will provide an additional $30.5 million over three years from 2006-07 to reinforce its commitment to a strong and fair compliance regime for people on welfare with a requirement to participate in the workforce. These modifications to the compliance system announced in the 2005-06 Budget will make the following improvements:
- no job seeker will lose payment without having been given a formal warning or the chance to have personal contact with Centrelink;
- job seekers will be given an opportunity to avoid a penalty through immediate re-engagement, except in the case of repeated or serious non-compliance;
- a job seeker who persists in their non-compliance, despite being warned and provided with an opportunity to re-engage, will lose payment until they do comply; and
- an eight week non-payment period will apply as a deterrent to repeated participation failures or more serious failures, such as refusing a reasonable job offer.
Further information can be found in the press release of 21 September 2005 issued by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.
Welfare to Work — Work for the Dole supplement — extension to Disability Support Pensioners
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
The Government will extend eligibility for the Work for the Dole supplement to Disability Support Pension recipients who volunteer for Work for the Dole at a cost of $0.8 million over four years. This includes $104,000 in 2005-06 for implementation by Centrelink. The Work for the Dole supplement provides participants with an additional payment of $20.80 per fortnight to assist with the costs of participation.
This measure will begin on 1 July 2006 and will build on the significant assistance provided to individuals with disabilities in the Welfare to Work package announced in the 2005-06 Budget.
Further information can be found in the press release of 21 September 2005 issued by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.
Workplace Relations Reform — agreement making
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | 6.7 | 14.7 | 18.2 | 21.7 |
The Government will provide $61.2 million over four years to enhance the capacity of the Office of the Employment Advocate (OEA) to meet the increased workload associated with the expanded coverage of the federal workplace relations system and its additional responsibility for certified agreements. OEA will administer a simplified lodgement-only process for both collective and individual agreements. Employers, employees and their representatives will also be assisted by OEA to recognise the benefits of agreement making and to develop and implement specific workplace agreements.
Further information can be found in the press release of 2 November 2005 issued by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.
Workplace Relations Reform — Award Review Taskforce
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | 7.3 | 1.6 | - | - |
The Government will provide $9.0 million over two years from 2005-06 for the Award Review Taskforce. The Taskforce will examine and report to Government on wage classification structures in awards, with a view to providing a more accessible and easily understood list of classifications and pay rates, and on the rationalisation of federal awards.
The Taskforce will be supported by a Secretariat located in the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.
Further information can be found in the press release of 9 October 2005 issued by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.
Workplace Relations Reform — changes to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Industrial Registry | -0.2 | 1.2 | -4.1 | -6.3 |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | 2.1 | - | - | - |
Changes to the role of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) in the new workplace relations system will result in savings of $7.3 million over four years. The AIRC will no longer have responsibility for the setting and adjustment of minimum wages; the setting and adjustment of key minimum conditions determined by Government in legislation; or certifying workplace agreements.
The AIRC will have responsibility for simplifying awards, regulating industrial action and registered organisations and a continued ongoing role in relation to unlawful termination of employment.
This measure includes $2.1 million in capital funding for leasehold improvements and information technology infrastructure.
Further information can be found in the press release of 9 October 2005 issued by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.
Workplace Relations Reform — communications campaign
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | 38.4 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $38.4 million in 2005-06 for a communications campaign to explain the Government’s workplace relations reform package.
The campaign includes newspaper, television, radio, magazine and internet advertising with targeted strategies for persons who are non-English speaking, Indigenous and print handicapped. It will explain why reforms are needed and intended outcomes of the reforms. The package also includes funding for research on awareness of the reforms.
Further information can be found in the press release of 9 October 2005 issued by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.
Workplace Relations Reform — compliance
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | 13.2 | 46.2 | 41.7 | 39.6 |
The Government will provide $140.7 million over four years to support an increase in the Office of Workplace Services’ compliance, enforcement and education resources. The Fair Pay and Conditions Standard, federal awards and agreements, and state awards and agreements brought into the new federal workplace relations system will fall under the compliance regime.
The funding will allow additional staff to be employed in compliance and enforcement activity, including auditing of workplaces to ensure they meet the Fair Pay and Conditions standard and award conditions, and answering enquiries on workplace relations issues.
Further information can be found in the press release of 2 November 2005 issued by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.
Workplace Relations Reform — development and implementation
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | 17.3 | 20.5 | 13.7 | 15.7 |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | 35.8 | 3.4 | 0.7 | 0.7 |
The Government will provide $107.9 million over four years for the development and implementation of policy and legislation for workplace relations reforms.
This measure includes funding for:
- policy and legislation development and initial implementation of reforms by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations;
- the refurbishment and expansion of the premises of the Office of Workplace Services;
- an expansion of the Office of the Employment Advocate’s premises to undertake its extended role in agreement making; and
- information technology infrastructure at the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.
This measure includes $40.7 million in capital funding for office fit-out and information technology infrastructure.
Further information can be found in the press release of 9 October 2005 issued by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.
Workplace Relations Reform — establishing the Australian Fair Pay Commission
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | 2.8 | 7.2 | 7.3 | 7.4 |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | 2.5 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $27.2 million over four years to establish the Australian Fair Pay Commission. The Commission will have independent authority to set and adjust minimum and award classification rates of pay, minimum wages for juniors, trainees, apprentices and employees with disabilities, minimum wages for piece workers and casual loadings.
A Secretariat will assist the five member Australian Fair Pay Commission in the performance of its functions.
This measure includes $2.5 million in capital funding for property and information technology infrastructure.
Further information can be found in the press release of 2 November 2005 issued by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.
Workplace Relations Reform — information and education
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | 7.4 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $7.4 million in 2005-06 for communication and education activities to support the Government’s workplace relations reforms.
- measure will include $4.7 million for call centre services to answer preliminary enquiries and requests for information on the workplace relations reforms. It will also include $2.7 million for printing and distribution of a range of information products to educate people about the reforms.
- information can be found in the press release of 9 October 2005 issued by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.
Workplace Relations Reforms — advice and education concerning termination of employment
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | 3.3 | 11.3 | 6.6 | 6.4 |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | 0.5 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $28.1 million over four years to help advise employees who believe their employment might have been terminated unlawfully and to educate employers on their obligations under the reformed termination of employment provisions. The programme includes:
- Funding of up to $4,000 per claim to enable employees to seek independent legal advice where they believe their employment might have been terminated unlawfully and they have not been able to resolve their dispute through conciliation. The Office of Workplace Services in the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations will refer eligible employees to legal firms for advice; and
- Funding of $5 million over two years for an education and training programme on fair and proper employment termination practices to assist employers understand their legal obligations. The programme will be delivered by the Office of Workplace Services and employer organisations.
This measure includes $0.5 million in capital funding for information technology infrastructure.
Further information can be found in the press release of 2 November 2005 issued by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.
Workplace Relations Reforms — alternative dispute resolution
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | 0.6 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 5.2 |
The Government will provide $11.4 million over four years to establish an alternative dispute resolution scheme for parties in workplace disputes.
Funding will be made available to enable parties to access private alternative dispute resolution services if dispute resolution efforts in the workplace have been unsuccessful. The alternative dispute resolution scheme will provide an opportunity for parties to resolve disputes without having to seek conciliation or arbitration by the Australian Industrial Relations Commission.
Further information can be found in the press release of 9 October 2005 issued by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.