Easing rules lets more join JobKeeper

EMPLOYERS across Australia struggling with a downturn in business due to COVID-19 will benefit from the government’s $15 billion JobKeeper boost, Scott Morrison says.

As Australia desperately tries to fend off a second wave, the Federal Government has relaxed the eligibility criteria for the wage subsidy program to allow more workers to access the scheme in the months ahead.

As part of the overhaul, announced this week, employers and sole traders will only have to show a fall in revenue over the past three months, rather than six months.

A second change to the program means staff employed on July 1, not just those on the books in March, will also qualify for the subsidy.

While the changes were prompted by the recent shutdown in Victoria, the Prime Minister (pictured) said hundreds of thousands of workers across Australia would benefit from the tweaks.

“This is not an arrangement that has been put in place specifically for Victoria, it’s a national program,” Mr Morrison said.

“There’ll be many people in their states and territories who will also benefit from the changes … to make sure the JobKeeper reaches to those parts of the country where they’re also continuing to do it tough.”

Treasury modelling estimates four million Australian workers will rely on the JobKeeper scheme over the September quarter, including an extra 530,000 Victorians.

Last month the government announced JobKeeper would fall from $1500 to $1200 per fortnight from September 28.