Approximately 6,000 people, mostly indigenous youth have dropped out of the remote work-for-the-dole scheme, and are likely not receiving income support at all, since it began in 2015.
The Indigenous affairs minister says the The Community Development Program is designed to increase support for the most vulnerable job seekers, while ensuring job-ready participants move into work.
The plummet in participants cannot be accounted for by job placements or movement between regions but the cause of the decline is yet to be confirmed.