Morrison cannot delay long term Jobseeker increase above poverty line

The Australian Greens MPs

The Greens say Mr Morrison must announce a permanent increase to the Jobseeker payment and guarantee that nobody is worse off under any new system.

"Mr Morrison is once again muddying the waters with a suggestion that the JobSeeker payment could be paid at a flat rate and targeted supplements abolished. A permanent increase to Jobseeker is the highest priority" Australian Greens spokesperson on Family and Community Services Senator Rachel Siewert said.

"The income support system needs reform as it is not fit for purpose but right now people need to know that they won't be dumped back to $40 a day on April 1.

"People in our community are living in situations of extreme anxiety and in many cases distress.

"It is just plain cruelty to be keeping 1.3 million people in limbo on whether they are going back to living on $40 a day.

"The Government must guarantee that no one will be worse off under any reforms they make to the income support system, it is untenable that people may be worse off under any so called reforms.

"Mr Morrison should be able to walk and chew gum. We need an announcement on a long term increase to JobSeeker that is above the poverty line and a commitment to reforming our outdated income support system which has needed an overhaul for decades."

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