Four federal Labor MPs have broken ranks to join calls for the government to increase JobSeeker payments by $24 billion. The government may shift a little.
The move came as the government hinted it may increase the $50-a-day payment by a little in the May 9 budget, but not to the levels demanded by the welfare sector.The Labor MPs – Alicia Payne, Louise Miller-Frost, Michelle Ananda-Rajah and Kate Thwaites – have added their names to a letter composed by the welfare lobby and independent senator David Pocock that has so far garnered more than 330 signatures and which will be sent to Prime Minster Anthony Albanese.
“We haven’t said we won’t raise it. We’ve simply said we will take careful consideration of the Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee’s report,” he said.The letter to Mr Albanese is signed by Labor, Greens and independent MPs, former Labor MPs including Doug Cameron and Brian Howe, ACTU leaders Sally McManus and Michele O’Neil, as well as community leaders, charities and progressive economists.
Written under the letterhead of the Australian Council of Social Services, the open letter to Mr Albanese demands the full increase to JobSeeker as recommended by the advisory group, which is chaired by former Labor welfare minister Jenny Macklin, who also signed the letter. “Even before the cost-of-living crisis, income support payments weren’t nearly enough to cover basic expenses, but now people struggling to get by on $50 a day face increased deprivation.”In a statement, shadow treasurer Angus Taylor said the best way to help the needy and families was by working in concert with the Reserve Bank of Australia to bring down inflation.
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