4 years ago
MILLIONS OF AUSTRALIANS TO BE 'SNAPPED BACK' TO $40 PER DAY
LINDA BURNEY MP
The Department of Social Services has admitted it believes another 400,000 Australians will require the JobSeeker payment by September – bringing the total number of JobSeeker recipients to 1.7 million.
With almost two million Australians requiring income support in six months’ time, it is difficult to comprehend why the Prime Minister is insisting on a snapback to $40 per day.
There has been mixed messaging from within the ranks of this Government.
This week, the Minister for Families and Social Services Anne Ruston said she would not rule out an increase to the JobSeeker payment rate.
Yesterday, her department said all options were on the table.
Yet the Prime Minister, Treasurer and Minister for Finance have locked in a return to $40 per day for Australians on JobSeeker. This is despite the Government’s own projections that unemployment will still be as high as 1.7 million.
Hundreds of thousands of Australians who have found themselves out of work, or had their hours slashed, are understandably anxious and confused by the mixed messages from this Government on JobSeeker.
They need to know how the Government will help get them back into work. And they need to know that they won’t be snapped back to $40 a day by this Government.
It wasn’t enough before the crisis, and it won’t be enough after.
The old Newstart rate of $40 per day was so low that presented a barrier to finding work.
Australians will need to meet costs such as phone and internet bills to be able to find jobs and participate in interviews.
Australians need assurance that this Government will not let them fall through the cracks.
With almost two million Australians requiring income support in six months’ time, it is difficult to comprehend why the Prime Minister is insisting on a snapback to $40 per day.
There has been mixed messaging from within the ranks of this Government.
This week, the Minister for Families and Social Services Anne Ruston said she would not rule out an increase to the JobSeeker payment rate.
Yesterday, her department said all options were on the table.
Yet the Prime Minister, Treasurer and Minister for Finance have locked in a return to $40 per day for Australians on JobSeeker. This is despite the Government’s own projections that unemployment will still be as high as 1.7 million.
Hundreds of thousands of Australians who have found themselves out of work, or had their hours slashed, are understandably anxious and confused by the mixed messages from this Government on JobSeeker.
They need to know how the Government will help get them back into work. And they need to know that they won’t be snapped back to $40 a day by this Government.
It wasn’t enough before the crisis, and it won’t be enough after.
The old Newstart rate of $40 per day was so low that presented a barrier to finding work.
Australians will need to meet costs such as phone and internet bills to be able to find jobs and participate in interviews.
Australians need assurance that this Government will not let them fall through the cracks.