The Australian Labor Party’s recently published its draft National Policy Platform which flags big changes to mutual obligations, setting the scene for a debate on employment services at the party’s upcoming National Conference.
The revised policy position marks the beginning of the end for mutual obligations through significant amendments made by the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU). The new policy platform includes:
- a statement regarding the inefficacy of the mutual obligations framework, as well as the harm it has caused job seekers,
- a commitment to review the nature and extent of mutual obligations, and
- the requirement to develop a revised approach that is both effective and transparent.
The union isn’t alone in its belief that the mutual obligations framework has reached its end date, with a growing choir of voices calling for reform, including the Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) and even one of Australia’s largest employment services providers – Wise Employment.
After launching a campaign to ‘Bring back the CES’ last month, the CPSU is advocating for an end to the outsourcing of employment services, with the establishment of a modern and fit-for-purpose Commonwealth Employment Service CES). This includes strengthening community not-for-profit providers and shifting away from the current multinational monopoly that exists.
Having long highlighted the harm caused by both mutual obligations and a broken employment services system, the CPSU view these amendments as a significant step towards fixing a broken system.
Quotes attributable to Melissa Donnelly, CPSU National Secretary:
“We were proud to launch our campaign to ‘Bring back the CES’ a month ago, and we’re proud to be continuing that work through developing strong and well supported amendments to the ALP’s National Policy Platform.
“The current system is not only broken and no longer fit-for-purpose, but the mutual obligations framework that underpins it causes harm.
“This is why the first step in any reform or overhaul of employment services must be to abolish mutual obligations.
“There is overwhelming evidence and a growing choir of advocates and organisations speaking out against mutual obligations. Reflecting this in the ALP’s National Policy Platform is an important step in fixing this broken system.
“We are also making the case to overhaul the entire employment services system through the creation of a modern, fit-for-purpose CES.
“The establishment of a modern CES would rebuild capacity and capability within the APS. It would allow the Commonwealth to play a direct role in shaping labour market changes and responding to economic and policy challenges. And it would rewrite the relationship between the government and job seekers, which is hugely overdue.
