Premier Peter Gutwein will not go into bat for Tasmania’s most disadvantaged or the greater business community by standing up to his mates in Canberra and demanding they reverse their cruel decision to slash Jobseeker.
Shadow Treasurer David O’Byrne said with the Prime Minister’s axe falling and reducing the fortnightly supplement by $150, the Premier was happy to see disadvantaged Tasmanians attempt to live on just $715 a fortnight.
“Peter Gutwein has today backed in his mates in Canberra and failed to go into bat for those thousands of Tasmanians who have lost their jobs during the COVID pandemic and are absolutely dependent on Jobseeker payments,” Mr O’Byrne said.
“Defending the Prime Minister’s decision is a disgrace.
“This is increased support that thousands of Tasmanians are reliant on to pay the bills and put food on the table.
“Instead, Mr Gutwein has told them to get a job when he knows over the past month 5,400 Tasmanian jobs have been lost and the unemployment rate has skyrocketed to over seven per cent, a total of 12,400 people who lost their jobs during the pandemic have not found alternative employment and for every job vacancy there are 27 Tasmanians looking for work.
“Jobseeker payments not only keep the lights on for thousands of Tasmanian families, they have allowed money to continue being spent in the community, helping keep business afloat.
“In refusing to acknowledge how important these payments have been at a critical time for Tasmania and by defending Scott Morrison in this callous decision, Mr Gutwein has shown how out of touch he is and the scant regard in which he holds Tasmanians who are struggling.”
David O’Byrne MP
Shadow Treasurer
