Information and updates on the department’s actions to assure the integrity of the Targeted Compliance Framework.
Assuring the integrity of the Targeted Compliance Framework
Reviews are underway to assure the integrity of the administration of the Targeted Compliance Framework that applies to people required to meet mutual obligations. The Targeted Compliance Framework can lead to decisions which have an impact on people’s experience of the employment services system and critically, their social security payment.
These reviews seek to ensure decisions taken through the Targeted Compliance Framework are made in a lawful and robust manner:
- An independent assurance review is examining the IT system operating the Targeted Compliance Framework against policy and business rules to ensure the system is operating as intended.
- A legal review is also examining whether decisions are being properly made and whether decision making processes are aligned with the law.
This page provides information regarding the progress of this work, and a summary of the department’s ongoing actions to assure the integrity of the Targeted Compliance Framework. It will be updated over time to reflect decisions taken and progress on implementation.
Statements and updates
Statements from the Secretary, Department of Employment and Workplace Relations:
- 26 February 2025 - Statement to Senate Education and Employment References Committee
- 21 March 2025 – Statement updating on the progress of assurance reviews, and announcing decisions to pause additional elements of the Targeted Compliance Framework
Decisions made by the Secretary, Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
The Secretary of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations has taken decisions to pause some parts of the system following advice from the reviews underway. This work has identified examples where the system is not operating in alignment with the law and policies or is not operating with the rigour that we expect. Decisions that affect people's social security payment can have a profound impact on people.
Further detail on the decisions to date, who is impacted, and information for job seekers, is available at each of the links below.
Pause of payment cancellations for not meeting a reconnection requirement within 4 weeks
On 24 September 2024, the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations paused cancellations of people’s social security payments due to not meeting a ‘reconnection requirement’ within 4 weeks.
Pause of payment cancellation decisions for persistent mutual obligation failures
On 4 July 2024, the Secretary of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations paused cancellations of people’s social security payments due to persistent mutual obligation failures.
Pause of payment cancellation decisions for unemployment failures
On 5 March 2025, the Secretary of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations paused all decisions to cancel people’s social security payments and to impose non-payment periods due to unemployment failures.
Pause of payment reduction decisions for persistent mutual obligation failures
On 6 March 2025, the Secretary of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations paused all decisions to reduce people’s social security payments due to persistent mutual obligation failures.
Support
Job seekers who have questions, are concerned, or would like to make a complaint - can call the Department of Employment and Workplace Relation’s National Customer Service Line for more information on 1800 805 260.
Next Steps
We will continue to work to ensure decisions are made in a lawful and robust manner.
If the Secretary of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations has reasonable concerns that the system is not operating in accordance with the law, she will take action to stop those decisions immediately.
Any decisions to reinstate reductions or cancellations will be communicated clearly and well ahead of those penalties being re-activated.