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'How good are jobs,' Scott Morrison says, rejecting calls to raise Newstart | 'How good are jobs,' Scott Morrison says, rejecting calls to raise Newstart |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Prime minister Scott Morrison says his government has no plans to raise Newstart beyond the usual indexation levels, while talking up national employment figures, declaring “how good are jobs”. | Prime minister Scott Morrison says his government has no plans to raise Newstart beyond the usual indexation levels, while talking up national employment figures, declaring “how good are jobs”. |
The comments come as one of his backbenchers warn people will turn to crime if the welfare payment is not increased. | The comments come as one of his backbenchers warn people will turn to crime if the welfare payment is not increased. |
While advocating for an increase in the payment for those in regional and rural communities, the former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce said it was a “reality of life” that those attempting to get by on Newstart would “grow dope” or steal in order to make ends meet. | While advocating for an increase in the payment for those in regional and rural communities, the former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce said it was a “reality of life” that those attempting to get by on Newstart would “grow dope” or steal in order to make ends meet. |
Barnaby Joyce backs Newstart raise, saying rate needs to reflect geography | Barnaby Joyce backs Newstart raise, saying rate needs to reflect geography |
But Morrison ruled out any change beyond the six-monthly indexation change, which last added just 30 cents a day to the $275.10 a week base payment, increasing it by just over $2. | But Morrison ruled out any change beyond the six-monthly indexation change, which last added just 30 cents a day to the $275.10 a week base payment, increasing it by just over $2. |
“More importantly, for those who are on Newstart … well over 90%, about 99% per cent, of people who are on Newstart are actually on other forms of payments as well,” Morrison said. | “More importantly, for those who are on Newstart … well over 90%, about 99% per cent, of people who are on Newstart are actually on other forms of payments as well,” Morrison said. |
“It’s about getting people into jobs. The latest jobs figures show 20,000 additional full-time jobs. That’s good news, that’s great news, more jobs. How good are jobs.” | “It’s about getting people into jobs. The latest jobs figures show 20,000 additional full-time jobs. That’s good news, that’s great news, more jobs. How good are jobs.” |
The oft-repeated claim from government MPs that most people on Newstart also receive other government assistance is true, but in the majority of cases that payment works out to less than $10 a week. | |
Business leaders have repeatedly called for a real-term increase to the unemployment payment, saying it was much needed to stimulate the economy. | Business leaders have repeatedly called for a real-term increase to the unemployment payment, saying it was much needed to stimulate the economy. |
Morrison said the government’s tax package, passed by the parliament including Labor and the crossbench earlier this month, would do the same job. | Morrison said the government’s tax package, passed by the parliament including Labor and the crossbench earlier this month, would do the same job. |
“I’ll tell you what’s going to support the economy, and that’s the tax relief provided to more than 3.5 million people that live outside Australia’s metropolitan areas,” Morrison said. | “I’ll tell you what’s going to support the economy, and that’s the tax relief provided to more than 3.5 million people that live outside Australia’s metropolitan areas,” Morrison said. |
“Tax relief. We also made the changes to the deeming rates last weekend, and that’s an appropriate adjustment after the movement in the cash rate by the Reserve Bank.” | “Tax relief. We also made the changes to the deeming rates last weekend, and that’s an appropriate adjustment after the movement in the cash rate by the Reserve Bank.” |
Newstart has not seen an increase, in real terms, since the Keating government. | Newstart has not seen an increase, in real terms, since the Keating government. |
Joyce has become the latest government MP to call for the payment to be reviewed and increased but with a focus on those who live in rural and regional communities. | Joyce has become the latest government MP to call for the payment to be reviewed and increased but with a focus on those who live in rural and regional communities. |
“I need to go to bat for my people, and the people out in regional areas, we don’t have a public transport system, you’ve got a secondhand, dumpy car, you don’t have a doctor down the street, you need to drive to town for it,” he told ABC News. | “I need to go to bat for my people, and the people out in regional areas, we don’t have a public transport system, you’ve got a secondhand, dumpy car, you don’t have a doctor down the street, you need to drive to town for it,” he told ABC News. |
“You’re looking at $50 a week plus in fuel just to pick up your groceries. They’ve got a different predicament to people in the cities. People end up in the little regional towns, they end up in the small towns, because they keep falling down and down. | “You’re looking at $50 a week plus in fuel just to pick up your groceries. They’ve got a different predicament to people in the cities. People end up in the little regional towns, they end up in the small towns, because they keep falling down and down. |
“You can’t do it on $280 a week.” | “You can’t do it on $280 a week.” |
Labor MPs have also begun to break ranks and demand an increase to the payment, with party policy to have the payment reviewed. | Labor MPs have also begun to break ranks and demand an increase to the payment, with party policy to have the payment reviewed. |
Welfare | Welfare |
Scott Morrison | Scott Morrison |
Barnaby Joyce | Barnaby Joyce |
Australian economy | Australian economy |
Coalition | Coalition |
news | news |
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