Thousands in Logan to be hit with Jobkeeper cuts on Monday

Tens of thousands of workers will be affected when the Federal Government cuts its pares back JobKeeper next week. This is what the payments will look like.

The Jobseeker and JobKeeper programs will be wound back starting on Monday.

Logan people will be some of the hardest hit if the federal government goes ahead with its planned winding back of its JobKeeker program this month.

6000 JOBS AT LOGAN INDUSTRIAL ESTATE

JOBS FOR MEAT WORKERS

JOBS AFTER CORONA

TEYS SLAMS JOBSEEKER

Numbers released by the federal Labor Party today revealed that more than 65,000 workers from 17,000 local businesses south of Brisbane would be affected.

Shadow Treasurer and Rankin MP Jim Chalmers said from Monday, JobKeeperwould be slashed by between $300 and $750 a fortnight with some recipients losing all payments.

Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers said axing the Jobseeker and JobKeeper payments would be felt by Logan workers.

Mr Chalmers questioned why the program was being wound back when nearly one million Australians were unemployed and 22,563 people would be affected in his seat of Rankin with a further 21,649 in Wright and 21,716 in Forde.

He said across the three federal electorates, he estimated more than $58.7 million would be removed from the local economy every fortnight, raising concerns about further job losses and business closures.

Mr Chalmers also said 8000 “tip-offs” had been made to the Australian Taxation Office about businesses failing to comply, with claims of deliberate underpayments of the wage subsidies ranked highest.

“The recession will be deeper and the unemployment queues will be longer because Scott Morrison is pulling support from the economy too soon and because he doesn’t have a plan for jobs,” Mr Chalmers said.

“Our community needs and deserves a comprehensive jobs plan to set us up for the recovery and the future.”

Forde MP Bert van Manen said payments have been restructured but did not think Logan businesses would be affected more than anywhere else.

But the claims were disputed by Forde MP Bert van Manen (LNP) who said some recipients would continue to get up to $1400 a fortnight after Monday when the government restructured both Jobseeker and JobKeeper payments.

“The two programs will work together to ensure people can maintain connection with the workforce and, where required, be supported to seek additional or alternative employment,” Mr van Manen said.

“For many people on JobKeeper, their employer will already be topping up their pay. But in cases where that’s not possible, additional support through JobSeeker may be available.”

WHAT THE NEW PAYMENTS LOOK LIKE

Under the changes to start on Monday, people receiving JobKeeper at a rate of $1200 per fortnight may be eligible for a part payment of JobSeeker of about $276 per fortnight including the coronavirus Supplement bringing their total taxpayer funded income to $1476 per fortnight.

Those receiving JobKeeper at the part time rate of $750 a fortnight, may be eligible for a part payment of JobSeeker of about $546 per fortnight including the coronavirus Supplement bringing their total taxpayer funded income to $1295 a fortnight.

Under the new arrangements, the rate of JobKeeper will be $1200 a fortnight for full-time employees and $750 per fortnight for people employed under 20 hours.

Boronia Heights man Daniel Cole, who has been partly employed during the pandemic, said both JobKeeperand Jobseeker schemes had been generous during the pandemic but he believed they should be extended.

“They have meant many small businesses could continue during lockdowns, but cutting back now is when it is probably going to hurt.”