Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Pratt, I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) the number of people relying on unemployment benefits has doubled since the start of the recession, and now stands at 1.6 million Australians,

  (ii) the Government expects 400,000 more people to be unemployed by the end of the year,

  (iii) on 25 September 2020 the Government cut the Coronavirus Supplement—hurting over 2.2 million Australians and risking jobs by ripping over $270 million from local economies every fortnight,

  (iv) the rate of unemployment payments is scheduled to revert to the old Newstart rate in December—a rate which traps people in poverty and is a barrier to getting work, and

  (v) Deloitte has calculated that the Government's cuts to JobSeeker payments will cost 145,000 full time jobs over the next two years; and

(b) calls on the Government to permanently increase JobSeeker payments, rather than prematurely cutting support for those who have lost their jobs.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government is providing enhanced support to the Australian community through a three-month extension of the coronavirus supplement till 31 December 2020. The coronavirus supplement is one element of the government's $507 billion economic response to the pandemic and builds on the support provided through the JobKeeper program and the new budget commitments providing a further $98 billion, including $25 billion in direct COVID-19 response measures and $74 billion in new measures to create jobs.

Question agreed to.