The level of the Jobseeker payment is good for the physical and economic health of the nation which is why we must retain an adequate unemployment payment beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, the Consumers Health Forum says.
“We strongly support the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Day of Action today to demonstrate why we cannot turn back to the old Newstart rate of $40 a day. We need a permanent and adequate increase to JobSeeker, Youth Allowance and other income support payments,” the CEO of the Consumers Health Forum, Leanne Wells, said.
“The significant increase in the unemployment payment at the onset of the coronavirus was recognition of just how inadequate the old Newstart rate was.
“Two years ago CHF pointed to evidence of the inadequacy of Newstart and the impact such low payments have on health outcomes in the Government’s own publication, Australia’s health 2018.
“That report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, states that action on the social determinants of health such as socio-economic status, ‘is an appropriate way to tackle unfair and avoidable health inequalities’.
