Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Hansard source

For every jobseeker who is unable to find a job, we've of course eased eligibility—we've waived waiting periods. We've waived various tests that are required to be met, and we've also made adjustments to the partner income and the like. So we've made it easier for people to access jobseeker if they're out of work. We've effectively doubled the jobseeker payment to help Australians who've lost their job through this period.

In relation to JobKeeper, as I've indicated—and I think we've gone around and around this issue for some time now—this is about keeping workers with an established connection to an employer connected to their employer, and, indeed, that is what this program is there for. As far as casuals are concerned, we have included casuals, but we have included long-term casuals, who have worked for the same employer for more than 12 months. That is an appropriate test. It's a test that is reflected in the Fair Work Act already, and that is, of course, why we provided it. (Time expired)