Senator RICE (Victoria) (14:23): Over the past year we've heard evidence from unemployed advocates, income support recipients and employment providers that mutual obligations are punitive and counterproductive. In fact, WISE Employment, itself, said in its submission to the Workforce Australia inquiry that removing these measures from the system would improve engagement from jobseekers. Minister, I know you said it can't be done overnight, but, given this mounting evidence that mutual obligations hinder rather than help people on income support, what is the rationale for maintaining this harmful system?
In this debate Dutton, Peter Craig MP Albanese, Anthony MP Phillips, Fiona MP Albanese, Anthony MP Ley, Sussan Penelope MP Albanese, Anthony MP Doyle, Mary MP O'Connor, Brendan Patrick John MP Steggall, Zali MP Albanese, Anthony MP Claydon, Sharon MP Chalmers, Jim MP Willcox, Andrew MP Albanese, Anthony MP Lawrence, Tania MP O'Neil, Clare Ellen MP Taylor, Angus MP Albanese, Anthony MP Roberts, Tracey MP Marles, Richard Donald MP Fletcher, Paul MP Marles, Richard Donald MP Georganas, Steve MP Husic, Ed MP Albanese, Anthony MP Fletcher, Paul MP Haines, Helen MP Bowen, Chris MP Burnell, Matt MP Clare, Jason Dean MP Hamilton, Garth MP Albanese, Anthony MP Mulino, Daniel MP Wells, Anika MP Chandler-Mather, Max MP Albanese, Anthony MP Neumann, Shayne Kenneth MP Butler, Mark Christopher MP Nampijinpa Price, Sen Jacinta Gallagher, Sen Katy Nampijinpa Price, Sen Jacinta Gallagher, Sen Katy Nampijinpa Price, Sen Jacinta Gallagher, Sen Katy White, Sen Linda Gallagher, Sen Katy White, Sen Linda Gallagher, Sen Katy White, Sen Linda Gallagher, Sen Katy Liddle, Sen Kerrynne Gallagher, Sen Katy Liddle, Sen Kerrynne Gallagher, Sen Katy Liddle, Sen Kerrynne Gallagher, Sen Katy Rice, Sen Janet Watt, Sen Murray Rice, Sen Janet Watt, Sen Murray Watt, Sen Murray Sheldon, Sen Tony Watt, Sen Murray Sheldon, Sen Tony Watt, Sen Murray Sheldon, Sen Tony Watt, Sen Murray Pocock, Sen David Gallagher, Sen Katy Pocock, Sen David Gallagher, Sen Katy Pocock, Sen David Gallagher, Sen Katy Van, Sen David Wong, Sen Penny Van, Sen David Wong, Sen Penny Van, Sen David Wong, Sen Penny Lambie, Sen Jacqui Wong, Sen Penny Lambie, Sen Jacqui Wong, Sen Penny Lambie, Sen Jacqui Wong, Sen Penny Smith, Sen Marielle Wong, Sen Penny Smith, Sen Marielle Wong, Sen Penny Smith, Sen Marielle Wong, Sen Penny Colbeck, Sen Richard Wong, Sen Penny Colbeck, Sen Richard Wong, Sen Penny Colbeck, Sen Richard Wong, Sen Penny Urquhart, Sen Anne Farrell, Sen Don Urquhart, Sen Anne Farrell, Sen Don Urquhart, Sen Anne Farrell, Sen Don