JobKeeper and JobSeeker payments reduced from September

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says those working less than 20 hours a week will receive $750 a fortnight under a revamped JobKeeper program.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks to the media during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Thursday, July 16, 2020. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) NO ARCHIVING

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison says there are more than 3,000 ADF personnel assisting in the fight against coronavirus. Source: AAP

Wage subsidies will be reduced to $1200 a fortnight for full-time workers after September as part of the federal government's overhaul of coronavirus support.

People working less than 20 hours a week will have their JobKeeper payment cut to $750 a fortnight.

Most businesses will have to requalify for JobKeeper by demonstrating a 30 per cent loss in revenue, with the threshold 50 per cent for major companies.
The new rates will run between September and March.

From March 2021, JobKeeper will be $1000 for full-time employees and $650 for people working less than 20 hours.

The coronavirus supplement for JobSeeker unemployed benefit recipients will drop from a current $550 to $250 at the end of September, and remain at that rate until the end of the year.

JobSeeker recipients will be able to earn $300 a fortnight without it affecting their payment.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the changes in Canberra on Tuesday.

The future of the permanent dole rate is expected to be revealed in the 6 October budget.

"I am leaning heavily in to the notion that we would anticipate on what we know right now that there obviously would need to be some continuation of the COVID supplement post-December," Mr Morrison said.

Mutual obligation requirements for people on JobSeeker will return from 4 August, with the assets test to be reintroduced from the end of September.
The prime minister said Australians understood both programs were temporary.

"They know a current scheme that is burning cash, their cash, taxpayers' cash to the tune of some $11 billion a month cannot go on forever," Mr Morrison said.

Treasury estimates the number of JobKeeper recipients will fall to 1.4 million in the December quarter and one million in the March 2021 quarter.

Around 3.5 million workers have received wage subsidies designed to keep employees linked to employers during the pandemic.


Share
Published 21 July 2020 11:36am
Source: AAP, SBS


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world