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Welfare reform package passes parliament

Legislation overhauling Australia's welfare system, including harsher penalties for people who fail to meet job-seeking obligations, has passed parliament.

Sweeping welfare reforms that will block dole recipients who fail to meet job-seeking obligations from receiving their payments have passed parliament.

The reforms introduce a new compliance framework under which people could lose welfare payments for failing to apply for jobs or not meeting other study or training requirements.

Most of the changes, which also include stronger penalties for persistent and deliberate non-compliance and the closure of the widow allowance to new entrants, will come in from July 1.

The Senate agreed to the bill last week with some amendments, which were approved in the House of Representatives, before it returned to the upper house where it was given the nod on Monday.

Social Services Minister Dan Tehan said the reforms were about simplification.

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"We want to make sure we have a welfare system that is simple for people to navigate," he told parliament on Monday.

Labor's social services spokeswoman Jenny Macklin said the bill would hurt many vulnerable Australians but the opposition would support it because the amendments "soften the blow".

"But I can say to the House absolutely clearly we will continue to oppose the bill overall," she said.

"There may have been some concessions by the government of a short-term nature but this is a straight up attack on vulnerable people."

Under the changes, people will no longer be able to use drug and alcohol dependence as a reasonable excuse for not meeting obligations, while wait times for unemployment payments will be increased.

A controversial move to drug test welfare recipients was dumped from the bill after it became a crucial sticking point in negotiations.

The government has reintroduced that proposal in separate legislation expected to be debated later this week.


2 min read

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Source: AAP



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