Changes to the JobKeeper and JobSeeker schemes are expected to be announced in the federal government’s economic update.
Modelling undertaken by The Australia Institute (TAI) suggests that more than 650,000 Australians would end up below the poverty line if the JobSeeker allowance is returned to its pre-coronavirus level. Some 505,000 people would still be below the poverty line if the original JobSeeker rate were to be increased by $75 a week.
TAI also warns that cutting income support would also hammer property investors by reducing tenants’ ability to pay rent:
