The Federal Treasurer has all but confirmed the Government will extend the JobSeeker supplement, in some form, beyond its December expiry date.
Key points:
- Josh Frydenberg says the Government is “favourably disposed” to extending JobSeeker beyond December
- Half of all JobKeeper recipients are expected to be in Victoria later this year
- The Treasurer defended sourcing inspiration from conservative icons Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan
The Government effectively doubled the former Newstart allowance at the beginning of the coronavirus crisis, by adding a $550-a-fortnight supplement.
From September, that supplement will be slashed to $250 a fortnight until December, taking the total value of the allowance to $815 a fortnight.
Josh Frydenberg has told Insiders the scheme is likely to be extended beyond that date.
“We’re favourably disposed to continuing it, but we’ve got to do an assessment of where the jobs market is at that time,” Mr Frydenberg said.
