Suspension of mutual obligation requirements for job seekers and participants in South Australia and Victoria

Media Release

The Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP - Minister for Indigenous Australians

The Hon Stuart Robert MP - Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business

Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC - Acting Minister for Families and Social Services and Acting Minister for Women’s Safety

The Morrison Government has suspended mutual obligation requirements for job seekers and participants in South Australia and extended the suspension already in place for Victoria after the announcement of COVID-19 lockdown arrangements in those states today.

The temporary suspension of mutual obligation requirements in South Australia is in place from today, Tuesday 20 July and will remain in place until Tuesday 3 August 2021 inclusive.

These arrangements will apply to job seekers in jobactive, Online Employment Services, Disability Employment Services and participants in ParentsNext and the Community Development Program who live or are serviced in South Australia.

For Victoria, the existing temporary suspension of mutual obligation requirements has been extended until Tuesday 3 August 2021 inclusive.

These arrangements will apply to job seekers in jobactive, Online Employment Services, Disability Employment Services and participants in ParentsNext who live or are serviced in Victoria. 

Job seekers and participants in these areas will not face payment suspensions or financial penalties for failing to meet their mutual obligation requirements that are due, or are arranged to occur, during the suspension period.

Job seekers and participants in South Australia and Victoria are encouraged to stay connected to employment services to ensure they are supported to access the full range of assistance, including mental health services if required. Job seekers should continue to check when their mutual obligation requirements are due after the temporary suspensions end.

Special Circumstances Exemptions continue to be available through Services Australia for job seekers and participants who require them.

The Government will continue to closely monitor the situation in South Australia and Victoria, and other jurisdictions affected by COVID-19 restrictions.

More information about mutual obligation requirements can be found at Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for job seekers