Rishworth defends jobseeker work program
The social services minister, Amanda Rishworth, expressed concern over the "varying quality" among providers tasked with assisting welfare recipients in finding employment but defended the continued involvement of private companies in the system.
Rishworth spoke on the ABC’s 7.30 program following her announcement at the National Press Club in Canberra that Labor intends to amend the unemployment system for jobseeker recipients.
While the precise details of the new system were not disclosed, it is expected to be divided into three streams based on a jobseeker’s skill level and readiness for work.
When asked by 7.30 whether she accepted some responsibility for the "failures in the current system" due to for-profit job providers who "ignore the more difficult cases," Rishworth responded:
"I would say that I am concerned that there is varying quality in the system. So I am focused on how we lift quality.
Stream one really is about the public service delivery. Stream two is more like the services we understand today.
Stream three, I imagine, will be different types of providers – they will have deep connection with community and be able to do this specialised, intensive work."
Government considers automatic reimbursement for scams under $3000
The government is contemplating rules that would require banks, telecommunications companies, and digital platforms to automatically reimburse victims of smaller scams involving amounts up to $3000.
Labor is exploring various options as part of a scam protection framework.
Financial Services Minister Daniel Mulino promoted the idea during an appearance on the ABC’s AM program, explaining that banks and telcos would concentrate their dispute resolution efforts on larger scams.
"For smaller losses, $3,000 and under, what we’re proposing is that there should be automatic payment to consumers where they can verify that there has been a scam.
Scams that get into the six figures: some investment scams, some romance scams. And that’s where dispute resolution processes would come into play."
Host Sally Sara questioned why the automatic payment threshold was not set higher, noting that other countries like the UK have thresholds closer to £48,000. Mulino explained that the government aims to avoid incentivising larger scams.
"What we want to do is to make sure that we don’t have the wrong incentives for perpetrators to see Australia as a soft target. But the balance is that with very small claims, we don’t want to have processes that are completely disproportionate to the value of the sum in dispute."
McKenzie denies misuse of taxpayer funds to attend son’s wedding
Victorian Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie has denied allegations that taxpayer funds were used for her to attend her son’s wedding or engagement party, as reported by Nine Newspapers earlier this week.
McKenzie billed taxpayers for flights to Tasmania where both events took place in 2022 and 2023. Parliamentary travel claims are only permitted when the "dominant purpose" of the trip is parliamentary business.
Speaking on the Today show, McKenzie stated:
"Taxpayer funds should never be used for private business, nor were they in this case.
When we’re undertaking whether it be community engagement, media engagement, stakeholder meetings, you know, assisting colleagues, there are arrangements in place to assist us to do that work that is right and appropriate, and it is not right and appropriate to bill the taxpayer, as you say, for personal activities. And I did not do that.
So when I was on personal business, I absolutely paid my own way."
When asked if she stands by her decision, McKenzie affirmed her position.
eSafety chief still investigating breaches of under-16s ban
Julie Inman Grant, the eSafety commissioner, reported that investigations into five platforms regarding compliance with the under-16s social media ban remain ongoing. She emphasized that her office does not have a "fine-issuing button" to address non-compliance.
In March, Inman Grant announced investigations into Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook for failing to comply with the ban, noting that two-thirds of under-16s remain active on these platforms.
During Senate estimates on Wednesday evening, she stated that the investigation into whether these platforms have taken "reasonable steps" to prevent under-16s from accessing their services has not concluded:
"I know there is strong interest in why fines have not yet been issued. Unfortunately, we do not have a fine-issuing button. Rather, systemic non-compliance needs to be proven in court with solid evidence and complex legal proceedings."
She noted some platforms have improved by implementing additional age verification measures, including further age checks and new verifications when users attempt to change their date of birth.
Some platforms have ceased allowing multiple attempts to pass facial age assurance, and parents have been given easier means to report their teenagers’ accounts.
Inman Grant revealed that one platform permitted users to attempt facial age verification approximately 24 times daily.
Nacc needs a ‘significant reset’ after Brereton, Haines says
Helen Haines, a prominent advocate for the anti-corruption commission, stated that the National Anti-Corruption Commission (Nacc) has been "overshadowed" by controversy and requires a reset following the resignation of its inaugural commissioner, Paul Brereton.
Haines emphasized that the commission should rebuild trust by delivering timely outcomes from investigations and improving public understanding of its processes.
Speaking on ABC’s RN Breakfast, she described the process as "a little secretive" so far.
"Unfortunately for Mr Brereton, the issues regarding his perceived conflicts of interest with defence overshadowed all those other principles. There’s no question that, when Mr Brereton was appointed to the Nacc, he was a person of great reputation and merit. And I think it is really unfortunate that what followed did follow and the Nacc has, of course, been completely overshadowed by those events."
Haines also noted that the Nacc has not held any public hearings, unlike its New South Wales counterpart, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac), which has held many. While she does not advocate for routine public hearings, she believes some should occur at appropriate times.
"An anti-corruption commission is not about a popcorn moment for the public … We want to see justice done when there has been corruption. And I think the public hearing is part of that, that people can see the process taking place. I’ve never called for routine public hearings but I do think we need to see some public hearings at the right time."
6,600 Iranians with visitor visas prevented from travelling to Australia
More than 6,600 Iranian nationals holding visitor visas were prevented from travelling to Australia following a decision by the Albanese government amid ongoing overseas conflict, according to home affairs officials.
At a Senate estimates hearing, the Department of Home Affairs confirmed that 6,634 Iranian nationals with valid visas were unable to travel after Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke’s decision in March. The department received 752 appeals for exemptions, granting 480 and denying 164.
Clare Sharp, the department’s immigration head, explained:
"Their visa is frozen and, if it has an expiry date that is after the September date when the arrival control determination lifts, then the visa will come into effect again."
Expressions of interest for a new temporary humanitarian pathway opened on Friday, offering a three-year stay while the US-Israeli conflict against Iran continues. The department reported 2,833 Iranian nationals currently in Australia on visitor visas, with no applications for the new pathway so far.
Greens Senator David Shoebridge inquired whether the temporary visa could be made permanent, similar to arrangements for Ukrainians and Afghans in recent years.
Sharp responded:
"As [those] conflicts progressed, and [we’ve] gotten a better handle on [whether] is this a short term crisis with people able to return, or is this a long-term protracted conflict, we will look at what options need to be put in place there."
Reserve Bank board member says rate settings not a choice between prioritising inflation or jobs
Carolyn Hewson, an independent member of the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) rate-setting board, stated that the global oil shock has complicated monetary policy management but argued it is incorrect to frame the central bank’s decisions as a choice between "prioritising inflation or prioritising jobs."
The RBA has raised interest rates three times this year in response to a stagflationary shock caused by surging fuel prices, which has increased both unemployment and inflation.
Hewson’s address at Adelaide University was the first speech of its kind since the RBA committed to having each independent board member deliver at least one speech annually.
She remarked on the economic impact of supply constraints, including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz:
"Supply constraints push inflation higher at the same time as they weaken economic activity and employment."
Hewson challenged the common framing of central bank objectives:
"It is often said that central banks face a stark choice in such moments between prioritising inflation or prioritising jobs.
But that framing misses the point."
She elaborated:
"It is not a question of which objective matters more; instead, it is about understanding that they are generally complementary over the longer term.
Seen this way, the RBA’s dual mandate is an expression of economics in service of the broader public interest."
This perspective is noteworthy as the RBA may raise mortgage rates as soon as August.
Labor flags changes to mutual obligations
Amanda Rishworth also indicated potential changes to mutual obligations, which require jobseeker recipients to demonstrate that they have applied for a specified number of jobs to continue receiving welfare payments.
Despite criticism from some welfare advocates, she affirmed that the system would remain in place.
"Mutual obligations have been a feature in the system for a long time. [They] play a really important role. It is part of the social contract that, if you’re receiving income support … and you’re able to work, you do take steps to find a job.
What I think is being commented on, where I do agree, is that there’s no point in having pointless, meaningless mutual obligations."
Live politics blog introduction
Good morning, Krishani Dhanji here with you, thanks to Martin Farrer for getting us started.
It is the last sitting day of the week, and political drama may intensify today with the government set to introduce a bill including changes to capital gains tax and a $250 working Australians offset, despite ongoing controversy.
Yesterday, the treasurer indicated that broad legislation would be passed first, with finer details introduced later.
Recent Senate estimates revealed new information about the number of Iranians with visitor visas barred from travelling to Australia under the government’s temporary travel ban, and the eSafety commissioner’s ongoing investigation into breaches of the under-16s social media ban. More details will follow.
Grab your coffee, I’ve got mine – let’s get started!
Summary of overnight stories
The social services minister, Amanda Rishworth, defended her decision not to remove the controversial for-profit components of the jobseeker program during an appearance on 7.30 last night.
The eSafety commissioner informed Senate estimates that investigations into five social media platforms regarding the under-16s ban remain unresolved, noting the absence of a "fine-issuing button" to address non-compliance.
