Australian Bureau of Statistics
Celebrating the International Year of Statistics 2013

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The aim of this program is to ensure unemployed people receive adequate income support. Where possible, payments are linked to provision of opportunities and incentives to enter or re-enter the workforce.

Income support for the unemployed was introduced, as unemployment benefit, in 1945. At the time it was primarily a short-term payment for people moving from one full-time job to another.

In recent decades the labour market has undergone significant structural change. High levels of unemployment and particularly long-term unemployment have persisted through the late 1990s and now into the 21st century.

SELECTED PAYMENTS FOR STUDENTS AND THE UNEMPLOYED(a), Tasmania - June 2003
	Recipients at June 2003(b)
	no.
Newstart Allowance	18,204
Youth Allowance	12,848
Partner Allowance	4,183
Austudy Payment	1,474
Widow Allowance	1,193
Mature Age Allowance	1,667
(a) As at May 2004, Centrelink figures have been revised to conform to new standard definitions. (b) For allowance payments, recipient numbers include those receiving a nil rate of payment. Source: Centrelink.

RECIPIENTS OF NEWSTART ALLOWANCE, Tasmania(a)(b)
		Unit	June 2001	June 2002	June 2003
Age group (years)
	Less than 21(c)	no.	-	-	-
	21-34	no.	9,346	8,903	8,577
	35-54	no.	8,601	7,965	7,680
	55-59	no.	1,501	1,659	1,620
	60 and over	no.	318	377	327
Sex
	Males	no.	14,704	13,943	13,142
	Females	no.	5,062	4,961	5,062
	Persons	no.	19,766	18,904	18,204
- nil or rounded to zero (a) Figures have been revised to include all eligible customers. (b) As at May 2004, Centrelink figures have been revised to conform to new standard definitions. (c) From 1 July 1998, Newstart Allowance (NSA) for people aged 16-20 years (and certain people aged 15 years) was replaced by Youth Allowance (YA). Only those people on NSA or Sickness Allowance who were also aged 18 to 20 years at 17 June 1997 (the date of YA announcement), and remained on NSA at 1 July 1998, were able to continue on NSA. Source: Centrelink.

• Newstart Allowance and Youth Allowance, http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/individuals/work_payments.htm

• Austudy, ABSTUDY, Assistance for Isolated Children and the Student Financial Supplement Scheme, http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/individuals/st_payments.htm

• Partner Allowance, Widow Allowance and Mature Age Allowance, http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/individuals/ret_payments.htm