MP supports dole increase under one condition

CONSERVATIVE politician George Christensen says he would support an increase to the “dole” payment under one condition.

The Dawson MP’S comments come as hospitality businesses across the region say the Jobseeker payment is making it hard to hire staff.

Formerly called Newstart, the welfare payment was set at $40 a day. In March it was doubled and renamed JobSeeker as the coronavirus pandemic escalated.

Mr Christensen said his support for increasing the payment after the coronavirus payment stopped was hinged on cashless welfare cards.

“I don’t want to see the dole become an entrenched payment people stay on (or) a payment system which really takes away from going out and getting a job,” he said. “The second thing is that I do not want to see misuse of money for illegal purposes.

“As controversial as it is, if we increase the payment, the quid pro quo would be on the basis of a (welfare) card.”

In January, a study by the Australian Council of Social Service found the Newstart unemployment benefit covered only three-quarters of recipients’ basic needs.

The premise of the cashless welfare debit card is to reduce the amount of cash available in a community to curb alcohol, gambling and drug misuse.

“The problem is we know that among unemployed people … there is a higher level of substance abuse and that is not conducive to a good society or finding a job,” Mr Christensen said.

“If you want an increase you take the card option, if you don’t want the card, go on the regular payment.”

Federal opposition Families and Social Services spokeswoman Linda Burney said she did not support the cashless welfare card.

“The government needs to be investing in jobs and adequate support, not threatening them with a card the independent Auditor General found no evidence to support,” she said.