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Treasurer defends ‘very substantial’ $3.57 a day JobSeeker boost

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has been forced to defend a modest increase to the dole after welfare groups and economists slammed the miserly boost.

Feb 24, 2021, updated Feb 24, 2021
Photo: AAP/Lukas Coch

Photo: AAP/Lukas Coch

The permanent base rate of JobSeeker payments is being lifted by $50 a fortnight, or just $3.57 a day.

Unemployed Australians and their allies have described the offering as a heartless betrayal.

Frydenberg insisted the increase was “very substantial” and shut down the prospect of negotiating a more meaningful ongoing boost to the unemployment benefit.

“The government is providing the safety net with JobSeeker, it’s not expected to be a payment that somebody is on indefinitely,” he told Nine on Wednesday.

“The vast majority of people are receiving other supplementary payments.”

The government argues the dole must be affordable and not provide a disincentive to taking low-paid work.

It has tied the increase to much stronger mutual obligations on JobSeeker recipients.

Employers are being given a new hotline to dob in job seekers who turn down work. Individuals may have their payments docked if they cannot produce a valid reason.

Welfare recipients will have to attend face-to-face meetings with employment agencies and apply for at least 15 jobs a month.

People on JobSeeker for more than six months will have to work for the dole or engage in an “intensive training” program of short courses.

-AAP

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