Labor is calling on the federal government to provide a permanent increased rate for the JobSeeker scheme before it is tapered back in December.
Shadow Families and Social Services Minister Linda Burney told Sky News the “planned snapback in December is cruel and the government needs to be clear about what their plans are”. She said Labor was yet to hold talks with the government about possible “carveouts” for keeping the JobSeeker rate at a higher level in Victoria due to the ongoing coronavirus situation.
“I’m not advocating a different rate at this stage but what I am advocating strongly is that the government needs to be clearer about what their plans are in relation to JobSeeker come December," she said. “Labor is very strongly arguing that the government needs to be clear about a permanent increase to JobSeeker. “It is intolerable that children are living in poverty in Australia and our arguments I think have a lot of credibility.
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