12 JobSeekers for every one job vacancy

There are 12 Australians on unemployment payments for every one job vacancy.
 
Yesterday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison suggested on Sydney radio that Australians receiving unemployment payments were doing so by choice.
 
To suggest this is widespread is to have your head in the sand. The Prime Minister and the Government have briefed media today with nothing more than anecdotal evidence. 
 
These comments from the Prime Minister are deeply hurtful and unhelpful to the millions of Australians out of work.
 
The vast majority of Australians on JobSeeker do the right thing. They don’t want to be on the payment. They want to be back in the workforce and earning a living.
 
The Prime Minister’s comments are completely out of touch with the realities of the jobs market confronting millions of Australians.
 
Australians deserve better from their Prime Minister. He needs to apologise.
 
The base rate of JobSeeker was too low before Cornavirus.
 
It was a barrier to getting a job and it was pushing people into poverty.
 
It threatens our nation’s road to economic recovery.
 
It is clear that there is chaos within the Government with senior ministers briefing out contradictory positions on the rate of JobSeeker. 
 
The Prime Minister cannot ‘snapback’ JobSeeker to the old base rate – a permanent increase to the base rate is needed.
 
At a time like this, the Prime Minister must think very little of Australians if he thinks they choose to be out of work.
 
LINDA BURNEY

MEDIA RELEASE - TUESDAY, 30 JUNE 2020

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