CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The Australian government is sick of having unemployed people say cannot they take a job because it may interfere with their golf plans or dreams of becoming an actor.
The government said it plans to tighten its rules on who qualifies for unemployment benefits to encourage a growing number of jobless — including some with creative excuses to stay off the job — to go to work.
“Australia’s income support system is there as a safety net for people who genuinely cannot find a job — not as an option for those who simply refuse to work,” Employment Minister Michaelia Cash said Tuesday.
The penalty for refusing a job offer without a good excuse is eight weeks without a welfare check.
