- Social Services Minister Anne Rushton has refuted claims unemployment payments could be lifted by $75 a week after September
- Over the weekend, News Corp reported the payments could be raised by $150 a fortnight, in a move that would cost the nation $3.3 billion every year
- However, speaking to the press on Sunday, the Minister said the reports were “factually incorrect”
- Recently, Labor’s Tanya Plibersek claimed there was “widespread agreement” that the unemployment payment, which totals $40 dollars a day, was not adequate
- Treasurer Josh Frydenburg is set to hand down a review of the JobSeeker (which is similar to Newstart) and JobKeeper programs on July 23
Social Services Minister Anne Rushton has rebutted claims unemployment payments could be lifted by $75 a week after September.
Over the weekend, News Corp papers reported the Newstart payments could be raised by $150 a fortnight, in a move that would cost the nation $3.3 billion every year.
Such a boost would permanently increase the Newstart fortnightly allowance to $715, up from $565 a fortnight for those who are unemployed.
These payments were temporarily bumped up to $1100 a fortnight, and renamed JobSeeker payments, as part of the Government’s economic assistance package in March.
At this stage, Newstart is set to return to its pre-COVID amount in September.
But citing senior ministers this weekend, News Corp claimed an announcement of a $75 weekly increase was set to be made when Treasurer Josh Frydenburg hands down the Government’s ‘mini-budget’ next month.
However, speaking to the press in Adelaide on Sunday, the Social Services Minister said reports the unemployment payments would increase by this amount were “factually incorrect.”
“There is no submission to the effect that has been reported in the paper that is currently before me or I’m aware of,” she said.
“I know of no such proposal and you can read into that what you’d like,” Anne continued.
Recently, Labor’s Tanya Plibersek claimed there was “widespread agreement” that the Newstart payment, which totals $40 dollars a day, was not adequate.
I woke up this morn to the front pages of newspapers saying the Govt was going to increase Newstart (now JobSeeker) by $75/week. Sadly, that didn’t last through breakfast. As more Australians face unemployment during this recession, the Liberals must accept that people need help. pic.twitter.com/BrAxLPWq1r
— Tanya Plibersek (@tanya_plibersek) June 28, 2020
Meanwhile, the opposition’s social services spokeswoman, Linda Burney, said there was a lot of anxiety among those on JobSeeker, who feared a return to pre-COVID levels of support.
“The Morrison Government needs to stop playing cruel games with over two million people in Australia, who rely on JobSeeker to put food on the table.”
Opposition social services spokeswoman, Linda Burney
Save for indexation jumps, the wage subsidy hasn’t been increased in 25 years.
Back in September, Senator Rushton was asked on Sky News whether she believed the payments were a liveable option for those who were unemployed.
“I have not said that it will be easy to live on Newstart,” she explained.
“It’s a safety net payment. It never was meant to be a replacement for a wage or a salary,” Anne continued.
Treasurer Josh Frydenburg is set to hand down a review of the JobSeeker and JobKeeper programs on July 23.