JobSeeker lifeline for Gold Coast
Our suburbs doing it the toughest
BY CHRISTMAS THE THOUSANDS OF GOLD COASTERS RECEIVING JOBSEEKER WILL HAVE THEIR PAYMENTS CUT BACK DOWN TO JUST $40 A DAY
THE number of Gold Coasters receiving unemployment benefits has more than doubled as the city struggles to combat pandemic shutdowns and lay-offs.
New Federal Government data shows 44,600 residents were dependent on the JobSeeker program in July, compared to 17,500 in December last year under the old Newstart scheme.
Department of Social Services figures also reveal that younger Gold Coasters have been hit hard during the coronavirus crisis, with the number on the Youth Allowance soaring from 1862 to 5501 in the same period.
JobSeeker, which replaced Newstart, is worth $565.70 a fortnight and includes an additional coronavirus supplement payment of $550.
In total, a single individual with no children can receive $1115.70 a fortnight.
From September 25, that is set to drop by $300, with an end to the supplement at the end of December 2020.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has not ruled out an extension.
In a suburb-by-suburb breakdown, Surfers Paradise had the highest increase of unemployed, rising from 975
LABOR SENATOR MURRAY WATT
under Newstart in December to 2640 on JobSeeker in July.
Upper Coomera, with 2102 people on JobSeeker payments, and Pimpama with 1606 were next.
The most drastic increase was at Mermaid Beach/Broadbeach which jumped from 993 people to 1249.
Fiona Watson, director of Fiona Watson Recruitment, said some sectors were looking up, despite the pain.
“Construction and accounting are the areas people should be looking for work,” Ms Watson said.
“The issue is there are a lot of administration people out there who have also lost work so there is a competition for the entry level or general office support roles.
“Where you might have had 100 people applying for a job, you now have over 300. But specialist admin roles, say as a contracts administrator, are still needed.”
Ms Watson said people seeking work needed to be mindful of demand and should customise their applications to their skill.
“Apply for a role you are genuinely suited to,” she said.
Queensland Labor Senator Murray Watt said the Gold Coast’s Federal LNP MPs had been silent on the COVID-19 impact, despite residing in some of the worst-affected areas. He called on the Morrison Government to detail a job plan for the Gold Coast, given the forecast end to the supplement scheme.
“By Christmas the thousands of Gold Coasters receiv
ing JobSeeker will have their payments cut back down to just $40 a day,” he said.
“Ripping this much money from Gold Coast families will throw thousands of locals into poverty, with no plan from the Morrison Government to help them get back to work.
LNP Member for Moncrieff Angie Bell argued the border closures had worsened the impact of the pandemic and that efforts to create jobs were already taking place.
“Moncrieff, the engine room of the Gold Coast, is missing our southern cousins shut out by the state border closure. Whilst the Labor Senator is busy scaring people, the Government is delivering the economic lifelines the people of Moncrieff need.
“Most of all they need jobs. Jobs that will be created by businesses. The Reimagine Jobs, Skills and Industry forum last week was about job creation for Gold Coasters.”