The latest ABS figures released today show a fall in jobs and wages in every state and territory in the first full fortnight after the Morrison Government cut JobKeeper prematurely.
 
30,000 jobs were lost in the fortnight to 17 October, 470,000 jobs have been lost since the virus outbreak began and 160,000 more Australians are expected to join the unemployment queues by Christmas.
 
The jobs crisis is getting worse but Scott Morrison and the Liberals are withdrawing support from the economy.
 
Australians deserve a Government that chases jobs not just headlines.
 
The latest ABS Payroll Jobs and Wages data shows:

• In the latest fortnight, payroll jobs decreased by 0.8 per cent and total wages paid decreased by 2.1 per cent; and
• Payroll jobs worked by males decreased by 0.9 per cent and those worked by females decreased by 0.8 per cent;
• Since the beginning of the crisis, jobs in accommodation and food services have decreased by 18.0 per cent and arts and recreation services jobs have fallen by 15.0 per cent.

These results come as retail turnover fell 1.1 per cent in September, the second consecutive fall.
 
The Liberals and Nationals’ decisions to cut JobKeeper, cut JobSeeker and exclude many Australians from the new hiring credit scheme will mean that the 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 means the only lasting legacies of this crisis could be higher unemployment for longer and a trillion dollars of debt.
 
WEDNESDAY, 4 NOVEMBER 2020