Union blasts JobKeeper confusion

UNION bosses say the federal government’s decision to ditch JobKeeper created “uncertainty and confusion” for workers and businesses

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate last week called for a limited JobKeeper-style payment for residents impacted by any hard border closure.

NSW recorded 97 new local Covid-19 cases on Friday.

Queensland had one case – the mother of a 12-year-old boy diagnosed with the Delta strain of the virus on Thursday.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions accused the federal government of “turning its back” on workers.

“This change (to lockdown support payments) has caused a lot of confusion,” president Michele O’Neil said.

“(It) provides $150 per week less for workers and does not give workers the same secure connection to employment that JobKeeper did.

“By abandoning JobKeeper the Morrison government created uncertainty and confusion for workers and businesses.”

There were more than 49,000 Gold Coast residents on JobKeeper before it ended in early 2021. Unemployment figures revealed this week showed the jobless rate was the lowest since April 2009.