Jobseeker payments will be increased in Labor Federal Budget

Anyone who picks up Job Seeker will soon see an increase in their payments as Labor prepares to hand over its federal budget this week.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers confirmed on Sunday that payments will be increased “across the board” by up to $2.85 per day, or $40 every two weeks, for all recipients and not just those over 55, as was speculated.

But Greens Social Services spokesman Senator Janet Rice said the dollar amount was an insult as those on welfare are hit hardest by the rising cost of living.

If today’s reports are true, Labour’s planned jobseeker increase is less than even the Liberals did under Scott Morrison, and is a slap in the face to anyone desperately in need of a substantial increase in Centrelink’s rate payments,” said Ms. Rice. in a statement.

“While in opposition, Labor denounced the Morrison government for its paltry rise and now that it’s in government, Labor does even less to help welfare recipients than the Conservative Party.”

Everyone ‘across the board’ on Jobsseeker will see an increase, but the Greens have labeled the amount as not enough

Currently, payments for a single adult with no dependent children are $693.10 every two weeks, or $49.50 a day, slightly less for those with a live-in relationship.

Those with dependent children or who are over age 60 receive $745.20 every two weeks, or $53.22 per day.

Senator Rice said an increase of $2.85 a day is “unfortunately insufficient and cannot even keep up with the rising cost of food and rent.”

This is still $500 a fortnight under the Henderson Poverty Line, and more than $200 under the recommendations of the government’s self-elected Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee.

Senator Rice also questioned whether other Social Security benefits, such as child benefit, disability pension, parental benefit, or retirement pension, would be increased.

The Labor government made no mention of this ahead of Tuesday’s release of the budget.

“We need to build a strong social safety net for everyone who needs it. Nobody deserves poverty. Labor must increase all income support payments above the poverty line to $88 a day,” said Sen. Rice.

The Labor government reportedly expects to post a surplus to the federal budget on Tuesday night in an astonishing fiscal turnaround (pictured is Treasurer Jim Chalmers, left)

Like John Howard, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured with girlfriend Jodie Haydon) could run a budget surplus during this first term, rather than having to wait five years as Bob Hawke’s government had to do.

The Labor government reportedly expects to run a surplus on the federal budget in a surprise financial turnaround.

The small surplus is said to have been made possible by higher iron ore, coal and gas prices that have boosted government revenues, while low unemployment has lowered the welfare bill.

It would be the first budget surplus since 2007, when the coalition was in power before the GFC in 2008.

But it would also mark the first federal labor budget in the black since 1989, when 18 percent interest rates during an era of high inflation led to a recession two years later.