A committee hand-picked by Treasurer Jim Chalmers to advise on economic and social inclusion has urged Labor to massively increase welfare spending in the March 25 Budget. Source: The Australian.
Mr Chalmers is expected to again reject the vast bulk of the recommendations from the economic inclusion advisory committee, which was established in 2022 as part of a deal with ACT senator David Pocock to secure his vote for the Albanese Government’s industrial relations reforms.
The committee, chaired by former deputy Labor leader Jenny Macklin, recommended the Government “substantially increase the base rates of JobSeeker and related working age payments”.
The committee also includes ACTU secretary Sally McManus, economist Angela Jackson and Australian Council of Social Service chief executive Cassandra Goldie.
It initially included a representative from the Business Council of Australia, but the lobby group’s chief executive, Bran Black, quit last year saying the committee was too focused on welfare.
The committee’s report, released yesterday, referenced research claiming lifting JobSeeker to 90 per cent of the $1047-a-week aged pension would see a return to society of $1.24 for every $1 invested.
“The research found that such an increase would create long-run benefits to Australia from a healthier and more productive workforce and decreased spending on government services worth $71.8 million, estimated for a representative group of 20,000 JobSeeker recipients,” the report says.
It also recommended changing the indexation for JobSeeker – which has risen by 12 per cent to $778 a week since 2023 – from being solely linked to inflation.
Despite the Albanese Government twice increasing Commonwealth Rent Assistance, the committee is urging Labor to do the same again at the Budget.
It also has recommendations to improve accessibility to childcare and employment services.
FULL STORY
Labor pushed to expand welfare (By Greg Brown, The Australian)
