with
BRENDAN O’CONNOR MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRY
SHADOW MINISTER FOR SCIENCE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR SMALL AND FAMILY BUSINESS
MEMBER FOR GORTON

New ABS figures out today show the Morrison Government cut JobKeeper in the same fortnight that jobs were lost in every state and territory, not just Victoria.
 
These numbers show 440,000 jobs have been lost since the virus outbreak, and the Government expects 160,000 more Australians will join the jobless queues by Christmas.
 
This is the consequence of a Morrison Government that cuts support even as unemployment is rising.
 
The Treasurer spends his time pointing the finger at Victoria in a desperate attempt to distract from his own substantial failure on jobs.
 
The ABS Weekly Payroll and Wages update reveals that between 19 September and 3 October, payroll jobs declined by 0.9 per cent across Australia, with total wages down 2.2 per cent.
 
Since the onset of the crisis, between 14 March 2020 and 3 October:

• Payroll jobs decreased by 4.1 per cent and total wages decreased by 3.3 per cent;
• Payroll jobs worked by men decreased by 5.0 per cent and those worked by women decreased by 4.2 per cent;
• Young people and older Australian workers were heavily impacted by the downturn, with payroll jobs worked by people aged 70 and over decreasing by 12.1 per cent and those worked by people aged 20-29 declining by 6.1 per cent.
• Payroll jobs in the accommodation and food services sector decreased by 17.4 per cent and the arts and recreation services industry saw a 12.9 per cent decline.

Decisions taken by the Liberals and Nationals mean that the Morrison Recession will be deeper than necessary and the unemployment queues longer than they need to be.
 
The Prime Minister has been slow to act during this crisis, and his Government’s deliberate decisions to exclude Australians from support and cut JobKeeper mean the only lasting legacies of this crisis could be higher unemployment for longer and a trillion dollars of debt.
 
TUESDAY, 20 OCTOBER 2020