Post by Banjo on Sept 15, 2020 19:09:09 GMT 7
Cuts to Centrelink JobSeeker will cost SA $1.6 billion and 13,000 jobs: report
The Deloitte Access Economics analysis, released on Tuesday, found if the cuts proceed as scheduled the national economy would lose $31.3 billion and an average of 145,000 full-time jobs.
South Australian Council of Social Service acting CEO Catherine Earl said the social advocacy group was urging the Federal Government to extend the JobSeeker payments beyond September 25.
“The Coronavirus Supplement has been a lifeline for people in South Australia without paid work,” Earl said.
“It has meant that finally they’ve been able to afford the essentials most of us take for granted: things like paying rent and utilities bills, eating healthy food and purchasing necessary medical supplies.
“We call on the Government to act on the Deloitte analysis, to commit to an extension of the existing Coronavirus Supplement, and to follow-up by legislating a permanent, adequate JobSeeker rate to allow people to cover the basics.
“As shown in this report, the COVID-19 pandemic and recession serves to strengthens our case for a permanent higher unemployment benefit”.
The Deloitte Access Economics report was commissioned by the Australian Council of Social Services and examined the economic impacts of lowering the levels of income support across the country.
It comes ahead of the Morrison government’s planned reduction to the coronavirus supplement on September 25, which axes the JobSeeker (previously Newstart) payment by $300 per fortnight.
The supplement will be removed entirely by the end of the year.
Social and business organisations have long advocated to boost the JobSeeker payment rate, which was effectively doubled when the Federal Government introduced the Coronavirus Supplement in March, increasing the rate from $550 a fortnight to $1200 a fortnight for six months.
indaily.com.au/news/2020/09/15/cuts-to-centrelink-jobseeker-will-cost-sa-1-6-billion-and-13000-jobs-report/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=INDAILY%20September%2015%202020&utm_content=INDAILY%20September%2015%202020+CID_7c3cc6a44bb7a9073974f7dadfe8445c&utm_source=EDM&utm_term=READ%20MORE
The Deloitte Access Economics analysis, released on Tuesday, found if the cuts proceed as scheduled the national economy would lose $31.3 billion and an average of 145,000 full-time jobs.
South Australian Council of Social Service acting CEO Catherine Earl said the social advocacy group was urging the Federal Government to extend the JobSeeker payments beyond September 25.
“The Coronavirus Supplement has been a lifeline for people in South Australia without paid work,” Earl said.
“It has meant that finally they’ve been able to afford the essentials most of us take for granted: things like paying rent and utilities bills, eating healthy food and purchasing necessary medical supplies.
“We call on the Government to act on the Deloitte analysis, to commit to an extension of the existing Coronavirus Supplement, and to follow-up by legislating a permanent, adequate JobSeeker rate to allow people to cover the basics.
“As shown in this report, the COVID-19 pandemic and recession serves to strengthens our case for a permanent higher unemployment benefit”.
The Deloitte Access Economics report was commissioned by the Australian Council of Social Services and examined the economic impacts of lowering the levels of income support across the country.
It comes ahead of the Morrison government’s planned reduction to the coronavirus supplement on September 25, which axes the JobSeeker (previously Newstart) payment by $300 per fortnight.
The supplement will be removed entirely by the end of the year.
Social and business organisations have long advocated to boost the JobSeeker payment rate, which was effectively doubled when the Federal Government introduced the Coronavirus Supplement in March, increasing the rate from $550 a fortnight to $1200 a fortnight for six months.
indaily.com.au/news/2020/09/15/cuts-to-centrelink-jobseeker-will-cost-sa-1-6-billion-and-13000-jobs-report/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=INDAILY%20September%2015%202020&utm_content=INDAILY%20September%2015%202020+CID_7c3cc6a44bb7a9073974f7dadfe8445c&utm_source=EDM&utm_term=READ%20MORE
