Employers will receive up to $10,000 in Commonwealth Government assistance if they hire a
job seeker aged 50 or older under an enhanced wage-subsidy programme announced in the
2014–15 Budget.
The new Restart programme – which starts on 1 July 2014 and is worth $524.8 million over four
years – more than triples the incentive payment previously announced by the Government.
The Restart programme is part of the Government’s Economic Action Strategy to build a
strong, prosperous economy and a safe, secure Australia.
The Restart programme could benefit up to 32,000 mature-age job seekers each year, and it
more than delivers on the Government’s 2013 election policy commitment to lift workforce
participation and improve quality of life.
Eligible employers will receive $3000 if they hire a full-time mature-age job seeker who was
previously unemployed for a minimum of six months and employ that person for at least six
months.
Once that job seeker has been working for the same employer for 12 months, the employer will
receive another payment of $3000.
The employer will then receive a further $2000 once the same job seeker has been with them
for 18 months, and $2000 again at 24 months.
Older workers are crucial to increasing our nation’s productivity and will play a critical role in
building a strong, prosperous economy for a safe and secure Australia.
Federal member for Page Kevin Hogan said ass the population aged, we needed to become a more productive nation.
“We can’t afford to have older Australians excluded from the workforce when they have a desire to work and have a
positive contribution to make,” he saud,
To be eligible for Restart, employers will need to demonstrate that the job they are offering is
sustainable and ongoing, and that they are not displacing existing workers with subsidised job
seekers.
When older Australians lose their jobs, they generally remain unemployed for a much longer
period than the average job seeker. The jobs on offer dwindle and that impacts on confidence,
as well as their quality of life.
The Abbott Government wants to reconnect older Australians with the incentive and rewards of
work, which means a stronger economy, and higher productivity.
The Restart programme will replace the Seniors Employment Incentive Payment.
The subsidy will also be available on a pro rata basis where employers take on part-time
workers for a minimum of 15 hours per week.
