KEY POINTS
- The JobSeeker payment is among those that will increase by $40 a fortnight, or $2.85 a day.
- The Unemployed Workers' Union and Australia's peak welfare body say it is not enough.
- Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the government has "struck the right balance".
This article contains references to suicide/self-harm.
Australians on JobSeeker set to receive less than a $3 daily boost to their payments later this year are “crushed and devastated” by the “paltry” increase, the union representing them says.
There are many groups who will get more as JobSeeker payments are increased. Source: SBS News
JobSeeker recipients say they have been left desolate after changes that will make "pretty much no difference" to their plight.
Tasmanian JobSeeker recipient Jamie Lee said she was looking forward to the prospect of a boost that had been rumoured ahead of the budget.
But she and her partner, both on the unemployment payment, were “heartbroken” at the outcome.
“It’s essentially nothing,” Ms Lee, 24, told SBS News.
“I was half-jokingly excited that I would be able to buy the same amount of groceries this time last year.
“It hurt to have that confirmation.”
Ms Lee and her partner spend around $100 on groceries a week, after rent and other bills.
“We’ve been getting the exact same amount of groceries — same types of food — for the past year and it’s costing more continually.”
“I feel left behind. Me and my partner and others are genuinely devastated, feeling looked over, and I don’t feel I’m part of this country. I feel alienated. Completely missed.”
The “paltry” increase wouldn’t even allow people to afford a bottle of milk, said Jeremy Poxon, the Australian Unemployed Workers' Union's spokesman.
“For people who are spiralling into crisis this (news) is more pain and more misery,” Mr Poxon told SBS News.
“I’ve just been speaking to our members ... and the feeling is they’re crushed and devastated.
“This isn’t anything that is going to meaningfully help them — this is $2.85 a day. It’s hard to buy a bottle of milk with that.”
JobSeeker recipient Melissa Fisher, 41, spoke to SBS News days before the budget was unveiled, saying there was "just nothing left" once her bills were covered.
Ms Fisher, who says she can usually only afford a single meal per day, watched the budget virtually alongside roughly 50 others living through poverty.
JobSeeker recipient Melissa Fisher says the budget will make "pretty much no difference" to her situation. Source: Supplied
"We're there trying to tell people that they've got to keep fighting and not give up. But that was the mood: people saying they weren't going to survive another year."
Ms Fisher spreads $100 over a fortnight to cover groceries, but she said she was now "getting less for more money".
Spiralling cost of living pressures had left her in a significantly worse position that when Labor came to office, and the extra $2.85 a day would make "pretty much no difference", she said.
"It just doesn't buy anything ... I could [previously] budget and still have a bit of money left over in a fortnight for emergencies. Now that's impossible," she said.
"For a year, Labor have left us in poverty, telling us to wait till the next election ... Labor claimed to be the party for the disadvantaged, and yet they've given us less than [Scott] Morrison."
The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) said the increase, while welcome, would still leave more than one million people in poverty, “unable to afford three meals a day and a roof over their head”.
The Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee said the payment needs to rise by at least $128 per week to ensure people could cover the basics.
“The government is providing an increase of $2.85 a day for people with the least. The Stage 3 tax cuts will deliver $25 a day to people on the highest incomes. We have our priorities wrong,” ACOSS chief Cassandra Goldie said.
JobSeeker was still one of the lowest unemployment payments in the OECD, despite Australia being one of the wealthiest countries in the world, she added.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the increase was appropriate.
"We understand that there will be people who are saying $40 a fortnight is not enough, there will be some who will be saying it is too much," Mr Chalmers said.
"We think we've struck the right balance between what we can afford and taking into consideration the economic pressures in the economy."
For Australians aged 55 and over on JobSeeker, the increase will be $46 a week, recognising their additional barriers to work, age discrimination and poor health. The government is expanding eligibility for the higher JobSeeker payment, currently given to over 60s, to around 52,000 people over 55.
“People aged 55 years and over and unemployed [for] nine months or more will now receive $56.70 a day, well below ACOSS’ ask of at least $76 a day,” Ms Goldie said.
Readers seeking crisis support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for young people aged up to 25). More information and support with mental health is available at and on 1300 22 4636.
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