Rob Mitchell, McEwen MHR
MITCHELL: MHR hits at plans to hurt jobless
Friday, August 21, 2020
Plans to increase the wait time to up to six months for unemployment benefits is another cruel blow to those who have become jobless during the pandemic, says McEwen MHR Rob Mitchell.
Mr Mitchell said the Morrison Federal Government confirmed it would press ahead with legislation to make Australians applying for the unemployment payments wait up to 26 weeks.
“This comes after the Prime Minister announced the re-introduction of a 13-week Liquid Assets Waiting Period from September 25,” Mr Mitchell said.
“This waiting period means those with $11,500 in the bank will have to wait 13 weeks to receive support.
“And despite the financial and emotional trauma of the Coronavirus crisis, the Prime Minister wants to double the maximum Liquid Asset Waiting Period to 26 weeks.
“The Government should not only delay the return of the Liquid Asset Waiting Period but also dump its plan to double it.
“Now is not the time to introduce more uncertainty and make it more difficult for Australians who have lost work to get support,” Mr Mitchell told The Local Paper.