Australian Human Rights Commission Submission to the CEDAW Committee – 12 June 2018 69 Australian Government Department of Social Services, Cashless Debit Card Trial Evaluation: Final Evaluation Report (August 2017), 36. At: https://www.dss.gov.au/families-and-children/programsservices/welfare-quarantining/cashless-debit-card-trial-evaluation-reports (viewed 30 May 2018); Australian Government Department of Social Services, Cashless Debit Card Trial Evaluation: Final Evaluation Report (August 2017), 281, 287. At: https://www.dss.gov.au/families-andchildren/programs-services/welfare-quarantining/cashless-debit-card-trial-evaluation-reports (viewed 30 May 2018). 70 See for example: K Jordan and L Fowkes for the Australian National University Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research, ‘Job Creation and Income Support in Remote Indigenous Australia: Moving forward with a better system, CAEPR Topical Issue No. 2/2016 (November 2016). At: http://caepr.cass.anu.edu.au/sites/default/files/docs/CAEPR_Topical_Issues_2_2016_0.pdf (viewed 23 May 2018). 71 Australian Human Rights Commission, Submission to the Discussion Paper: Remote Employment and Participation (9 February 2018). At: https://pmc.gov.au/indigenous-affairs/employment/communitydevelopment-programme-cdp/remote-employment-and-participation-discussion-paper-submissions (viewed 18 May 2018). The Commission’s submission to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet in relation to the Discussion Paper on remote employment and participation, in which it was recommended that a new CDP model:  Apply a human rights based approach (with a particular focus on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples).  Reflect active consideration to the proposal of the Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory.  Support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-led and controlled approaches, including the nature of approved work activities, in a manner consistent with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s right to self-determination and the principle of free, prior and informed consent.  Be informed by local and Indigenous knowledge and experiences about the needs and aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their communities.  Ensure that participation in work activities is compensated through wages, which are set at least at the national minimum wage.  Ensure that the mutual obligation activities and penalties are no more onerous for CDP participants than those participants on income support in non-remote locations.  Remove the financial disincentive for providers to exercise their discretion in cases of noncompliance with attendance requirements. The Australian Government announced changes to the CDP in its 2018-2019 Federal Budget. However, a number of the concerns previously raised by the Commission and other stakeholders still stand, such as the penalty system. See: Human Rights Law Centre, ‘Discriminatory remote work scheme improved but onerous work hours and harsh penalties will drive poverty’ (Media Release, 11 May 2018). At: https://www.hrlc.org.au/news/2018/5/10/discriminatory-remote-work-scheme-improvedbut-work-hours-will-drive-poverty (viewed 22 May 2018); and National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples, ‘First Peoples sacrificed in the name of Budget Surplus’ (Media Release, 9 May 2018). At: https://nationalcongress.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/National-Congress-Budget-Response2018-8th-May-2018.pdf (viewed 22 May 2018). The Commission commends:  The reduction in income reporting requirements to Centrelink for those job seekers who have mutual obligation requirements of between zero and 14 hours per week.  The Government’s assurance that job seekers will not be required to participate beyond their capacity through an improved assessment process that will clearly identify any barriers to employment they have.  The Government’s initiative to support 6,000 subsidised jobs for CDP participants which will provide job-holders with wages at minimum wage or above and access to superannuation and other work place entitlements. The Commission stands by the recommendations made in its submission to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet in relation to the Discussion Paper on remote employment and participation in which the Commission recommended a wage-based model. The Commission is therefore of the view 26