 The Australian government has since had a "mutual obligation" regime for most unemployed people wishing to receive welfare payments nationwide from 1997 (and in remote indigenous communities from 1977).Part of this is a near-universal offer of at least 16 hours of low-paid work each week, for periods of time.For much of this regime, the work options were for employment with not-for-profit charity organisations, a government body or their own young children.