The Australian Government is introducing more stringent evidentiary requirements for employment service providers.

 

The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations will also undertake an audit of employment service providers who are claiming a greater proportion of payments than would normally be expected. Employment service providers are agencies that provide various kinds of support to job seekers.

 

Where those employment providers fail to verify their claims, the Government will reclaim fees, cancel contracts or refer matters to the police where necessary.

 

The Minister for Employment Participation, Kate Ellis, said she has asked the Department to consider whether new rules are needed to ensure that the integrity of employment services is maintained and to conduct a review of the policy for provider assisted and provider brokered payments.

 

“A number of allegations are currently under investigation and the Government will ensure that the full force of compliance and legal action is brought to bear on any organisation that proves to have operated fraudulently.”

 

“While the vast majority of employment service providers do the right thing, the Government is not shying away from deploying resources to ensure that providers comply with the rules,” she said.

 

Mr Robert Butterworth, who is a former senior public servant from the Department of Finance and Deregulation, will oversee the audit process.

 

 “I want to send a signal loud and clear to any employment providers who think they can get away with misusing public funds. This Government will not hesitate to crack down on providers that are doing the wrong thing.”

 

“The Government is proud of its employment record which has seen around 750,000 more Australians enter into paid employment since 2007. That’s 750,000 more Australians who are bringing home a pay packet each week and gaining the promise of a brighter future,” Ms Ellis said.

 

“Part of that success story has been the Government’s employment provider system, Job Services Australia and I am determined to ensure that confidence in that system is maintained.”

The Australian Government will invest $5.5 billion in Job Services Australia over the next four years.