The new requirement will be rolled out in 18 mostly regional areas.

Anyone aged 18 to 30 and unemployed for more than a year will have to go on a work-for-the-dole program for six months, Assistant Employment Minister Luke Hartsuyker said on Wednesday.

The areas targeted in this first phase of expanding work for-the-dole program have high unemployment.The change doesn’t require legislation to go through parliament.

■ Shoalhaven (NSW)

■ Fairfield, Liverpool (NSW)

■ Nepean, Outer Western Sydney (including Blue Mountains NSW)

■ Central Coast (NSW)

■ Richmond, Tweed, Clarence Valley (including Ballina and Byron Bay NSW)

■ Coffs Harbour, Macleay, Hastings (NSW)

■ Bundaberg (Qld)em Fraser Coast (Qld)

■ Outer North Brisbane (Qld)em Cairns (Qld)

■ Logan (Qld)em Westgate (northwest Melbourne)

■ Goulburn Valley (Vic)em Peninsula (southeastern Melbourne)

■ Geelong (Vic)em Central and West Metro (southwest Perth)

■ Northern Adelaide, Gawler (SA)

■ West and North West, Launceston (Tas)

Source: federal government

AAP