Recommendation to Raise JobSeeker Payments Has Been Rejected

Treasurer Jim Chalmers rejected recommendations to increase JobSeeker payments despite a parliamentary committee finding that these social welfare payments were inadequate.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 07: Treasurer Jim Chalmers during Question time at Parliament house on February 07, 2023 in Canberra, Australia. Hipkins is visiting Canberra to shore up trans-Tasman ties in his first official international trip as New Zealand's leader. (Photo by Martin Ollman/Getty Images) Credit: Martin Ollman/Getty Images

A Committee has been set up by the federal government to review income support payments last December as part of a deal with independent senator David Pocock.

That committee's pre-budget report had made 37 recommendations, including increasing JobSeeker payments from $693.10 a fortnight to a little under $1,000 [[to $957.60]] per fortnight.

It is also recommended that rent assistance increase from $157.20 per fortnight to $228.

JobSeeker's current costs are already soaring by $24 billion above previous estimates - with the Treasurer expected to ignore the report's key recommendations.

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