Solomon Lew’s Premier Investments has bowed to pressure to repay $15.6 million in JobKeeper subsidies but faces new scrutiny amid claims it received more than $100 million in wage support despite lifting earnings by 12 per cent in 2020 and almost 90 per cent in the first-half of 2021.

In March, Premier chairman Solomon Lew and chief executive Mark McInnes defied calls to pay back net JobKeeper subsidies of $15.6 million received in the January-half or the $69 million received last fiscal year, saying the funds were needed as “insurance” to pay staff in the event of further lockdowns.