JobKeeper wage subsidy to end on March 28

The federal opposition has issued a warning to the Morrison government, as the end of a key program looms.

More than one million Aussie workers receiving JobKeeper will have the support “ripped” away from them on Sunday, Labor says.

Welfare groups have warned that thousands of workers previously supported by the wage subsidy could be joining the dole queue when the payment is cut on March 28.

More than 1.1 million people were already receiving JobSeeker this month, almost 60,000 fewer people than in February.

In question time on Thursday, Deputy Labor leader Richard Marles accused the government of ending support for more than a million Australians.

“Treasury is warned that up to 150,000 Australians currently on JobKeeper will lose their jobs,” he said.

“How many Australians will be left behind by this government when the Prime Minister rips away JobKeeper this Sunday?”

But Scott Morrison said Treasury had not concluded the program’s end would lead to a rise in unemployment.

“We will deal with issues as they continue to present,” he said.

Scott Morrison responds to Labor’s grilling in question time on Thursday. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

Mr Morrison said the number of people employed in Australia was now greater than when the pandemic-induced recession hit.

“We said that assistance, that emergency assistance would be temporary and would be targeted,” he said.

“Our government also understands that you cannot run the Australian economy on taxpayers’ money forever.”

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg reiterated that his department secretary also agreed it was appropriate for the “remarkable program” to end.

“It saved more than 700,000 jobs, according to the Reserve Bank of Australia,” he said.

“As JobKeeper ends, other support measures from the Morrison government continue to roll out.

“We are not out of this pandemic yet, there is still some challenging days ahead.

“But the Australian economy is recovering more strongly than nearly any other country in the world.”

The federal government on Thursday announced $135 million in support for the arts and entertainment industry, hit hard by coronavirus restrictions, following additional support for the aviation and tourism sector.