Subsidy cuts on way
Parliament debates reduction, extension of assistance plans
CHANGES to the JobKeeper and JobSeeker programs will be introduced into federal parliament this week.
Politicians on Monday returned to Canberra for a fortnight of parliamentary sitting, with some using video links to contribute to debates from their home states.
New legislation, expected to be introduced on Wednesday, will extend JobKeeper and
JobSeeker beyond September 27 at a reduced payment rate, and extend emergency industrial relations changes.
“It will transition from $1500 (a fortnight) down to $1200 and then down to $1000 (from January) and there will be two different payments based on the number of hours worked,” Mr Frydenberg told Today on Monday.
“But at $101bn and supporting nearly 4 million Australian workers in this September quarter … JobKeeper is an incredible program.
“They are not my words. They are the words of the governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia.”
The government will need three of five crossbench votes in the Senate to pass the legislation.
Centre Alliance Senator Stirling Griff has reportedly given his support for the JobKeeper 2.0 extension.
Tasmanian Senator Jacqui
Lambie gave an impassioned speech in the Upper House on Monday saying the payments had to continue at the current rates until after Christmas.
“I want to get money out to Australians that need it most,” she said. “It is not fair and it is not sensible.”
Opposition leader Anthony Albanese on Monday said Labor would be “constructive” and would not block the support measure from passing.
However, Mr Albanese said the wage subsidy rate should not be cut.
“There are a whole range of businesses that are really struggling and that require this support and an early withdrawal of support will mean that the downturn is deeper, and it will last longer,” he said.
As Victoria marks its halfway point in its stage four lockdown, Mr Frydenberg said up to 400,000 people in Victoria would either lose their job or see their hours reduced to zero.