Welfare and disability advocates have called on the federal government to immediately suspend mutual obligations for job seekers due to COVID-19 risk, accusing the government of being in "denial about the reality of what’s happening in the Australian community".
The calls from the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) and People with Disability Australia (PWDA) come amid rising COVID-19 case numbers and an acute shortage of rapid antigen test kits.
Services Australia describes mutual obligations as "tasks and activities you agree to do while getting certain payments from us", and job seekers must fulfil their mutual obligation requirements to continue receiving income support payments.
Minister for Families and Social Services of Australia Anne Ruston told SBS News in a statement the federal government has "reacted swiftly" when lockdowns have impacted Australians looking for work or training as part of their requirements - adding there are currently no lockdowns or other restrictions.
Sixty-two-year-old Lindy Saville lives on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula and is currently out of work and relying on welfare payments to survive.
While she’s looking for a job, as part of her mutual obligation requirements, she’s expected to perform 15 hours of volunteer work per week.
“I think it’s absolutely insane that they’re sending people of any age, especially over 60, into these environments where you can’t possibly know the [infection] status of people,” Ms Saville told SBS News.
Lindy Saville (left), with husband Steve Ellis. Ms Saville fears she will contract COVID-19 while being required to undertake mutual obligations. Source: Supplied
“I am triple vaccinated but I am extremely concerned about being outside and among other people.
Ms Saville said she is worried she may become infected with COVID-19 while undertaking mutual obligations, and pass it on to her husband.
ACOSS CEO Cassandra Goldie said the mutual obligation requirements are putting the community at risk.
“About 900,000 people [across Australia] are subjected to meet mutual obligations, to job search, to attend the Work for the Dole program, to be involved in potentially [face-to-face] employment interviews,” Dr Goldie said.
“It is not appropriate for people to be subjected to mutual obligations. In this environment with the serious global pandemic hitting very hard right now, the government needs to do the right thing.
“About one in three people on social security of a working age have some kind of partial capacity to work. That may mean a disability or some kind of chronic illness.
“In some cases you can get an exemption, but many people do not have an exemption and they are immunocompromised. It’s vital that they’re not forced into workplaces in a way that would create risks for them.”
Dr Cassandra Goldie, CEO of the Australian Council of Social Service. Source: Supplied
National disability rights and advocacy organisation PWDA has also raised similar concerns.
“People with disability are one of the most vulnerable people in the community right now. We’ve seen time and again the government forget people with disability,” Giancarlo de Vera, PWDA’s senior manager of policy, told SBS News.
“And it’s absolutely reprehensible the government doesn’t think that suspending mutual obligations for disabled people [is necessary].”
The Australian government suspended mutual obligations for job seekers during the lockdowns last year.
“We are effectively in lockdown in so many parts of the community right now,” Dr Goldie said.
“The federal government has said that they will leave to individual job service providers to have flexibility about whether or not people must attend face-to-face interviews or participate in schemes like Work for the Dole,” she said.
She said ACOSS does not approve of this approach.
“We do not support this kind of case-by-case approach. There is enough anxiety and confusion and distress in the community," Dr Goldie said.
“The government is in denial about the reality of what’s happening in the Australian community.
Minister Ruston said anyone who is sick, whether that be related to COVID or any other illness, is directed to isolate or is caring for someone who is isolating can seek an exemption to the mutual obligation requirements.
She added: "The Morrison Government has done more for Australians doing it tough than any other government having lifted the permanent rate of JobSeeker and related payments by the highest amount in 30 years as well as providing billions of dollars in emergency support payments whether that be through JobKeeper, the Coronavirus Supplement or the COVID Disaster Payment.
"Since the start of the pandemic, the Federal Government has reacted swiftly to changing circumstances where state-health imposed lockdowns and restrictions on people’s movement impacted the ability for Australians to look for work or do training as part of mutual obligation requirements.
"Right now, there are no lockdowns or restrictions on people’s movement."
