‘Absurd’: some Australian jobseekers get a month’s reprieve from mutual obligations while others miss out

Anomaly in dates of suspension means individuals whose reporting date falls after 2 January treated different to others

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Welfare activists have criticised an anomaly that will see some jobseekers forced to complete mutual obligations throughout December and early January while others get a month's reprieve.

The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations said in a notice to jobseekers this week that mutual obligations would be suspended for participants from Monday 19 December 2022 until Monday 2 January 2023.