The third contract covered 109 network providers with 1129 sites. The payment system was changed so that Job Network members were paid to monitor clients more closely with a series of scheduled Job Network interviews that matched the client’s unemployment record. Clients were referred to the Job Network after registering with Centrelink for benefits. Network members were originally to be paid when clients attended an interview with the Job Network but the number of ‘no shows’ led to a cash-flow crisis for the agencies. From September 2003, they were paid for their work whether the client came to the meeting or not.

The AWT legislation was not passed by parliament until March 2003. Passage of the legislation then allowed the complete package of incentives, assistance and extra requirements to be introduced. In September 2003, the following initiatives began (O’Neill 2003; Yeend 2000a, 2000b):