Thousands of jobs in the tourism industry are at risk with the looming end of the JobKeeper support payment.
It has prompted pleas for the Federal Government to extend the wage subsidy scheme beyond March.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk [[PAL-uh-shay]] says an extension to JobKeeper is a matter of urgency.
"Let me say this very clearly. I've been up there listening to the operators personally. Nearly every single operator raised this issue with me. Perhaps rather Josh Frydenberg name calling, perhaps he could go up there and listen first hand as well. I am merely communicating what people are saying to me. They are concerned that they are going to fall off a cliff."
Meanwhile, Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers is calling for better compliance over the JobKeeper program, with reports the subsidy was defrauded.
Some businesses signed up fake employees, including jailed criminals and dead people.
Treasurer Frydenberg says he is very confident in the processes of the Australian Tax Office ((ATO)) around compliance and what has been delivered so far.
Despite the pressure for JobKeeper to be extended, Mr Frydenberg stands by his decision to end the wage subsidy in March.
He says recent strong economic growth figures indicate that Australia is ready to move beyond the program.
[["This is off the back of the most recent jobs numbers, which saw 50,000 jobs created in the month of December. The unemployment rate fell to 6.6 per cent. 785,000 jobs were created over the last seven months. It is off the back of rising housing prices in capital cities and regional areas. Off the back of strong retail numbers. Off the back of increased economic activity and economic growth."
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