Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator McCarthy, I move:

That the Senate–

(a) notes that:

  (i) since the start of the coronavirus crisis, the number of people receiving unemployment benefits has increased by over 500,000, to more than 1.3 million,

  (ii) the Department of Social Services expects 1.7 million people to be relying on JobSeeker Payment by September this year,

  (iii) the Government has temporarily increased the JobSeeker Payment, through the Coronavirus Supplement, but only until 24 September 2020,

  (iv) the base rate of JobSeeker Payment – previously Newstart – is too low – it traps people in poverty and prevents them from getting work because they cannot afford essentials like transport, training, clothes, equipment and housing; and

  (v) Deloitte Access Economics has warned the Government against the rapid withdrawal of support, and stated that, at the end of the Coronavirus Supplement period; "there is an obvious case to keep JobSeeker at a higher rate than NewStart"; and

(b) calls on the Federal Government to:

  (i) release economic modelling showing the impact on jobs and the economy of suddenly and completely stopping the Coronavirus Supplement, and

  (ii) increase the base rate of the JobSeeker Payment when the Coronavirus Supplement ends, to keep people out of poverty and ensure they can get work when it is available.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government's focus is on growing the economy to provide job opportunities so that people can move into work. Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, we saw the proportion of working-age Australians reliant on payments down to its lowest levels in 30 years at 13.5 per cent, and unemployment was down to 5.1 per cent, with more than 1.5 million jobs since we came to office. We know that the best way to improve peoples' livelihoods is to get them back into the workforce.

Question agreed to.