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

No, I cannot confirm this. What the Morrison government delivered last night was its plan to get Australia out of the COVID recession and to get Australians back into work. We are not accepting that people will remain on income support forever and a day; we are working to get people back to work. We understand that there is a difference between people who have a track record in the workforce, who have been employed before, in terms of their employability, and the challenges faced by a more vulnerable segment of the population in the context of the COVID recession. Based on experiences in previous recessions, we understand young Australians who have either not yet been in the workforce and are about to get into the workforce or only just recently been engaged in the workforce are in a comparatively more challenged position. It is very important that we ensure that they do not become entrenched in terms of having to rely on welfare support. That is why we've put in place the particular hiring credit, in order to provide particular support to young Australians. But, of course, we want all Australians to get back into work. (Time expired)