JobKeeper: NT’s northern suburbs hit hardest by virus shutdown

THE NT suburbs hardest hit by the economic blow of the coronavirus crisis have been revealed in new Treasury data. FIND OUT IF YOUR POSTCODE IS ON THE LIST

THE coronavirus pandemic has crippled Darwin’s northern suburbs more than anywhere else in the NT, with the Red Centre not far behind.

New Federal Treasury data has revealed there are more workers on JobKeeper within the 0810 postcode, which includes suburbs like Nightcliff, Wanguri and Casuarina, more than anywhere else in the NT.

The 0810 postcode has the highest number of JobKeeper recipients in the NT, with a total of 755 businesses on the Federal Government scheme.

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Suburbs in the immediate outskirts of the CBD which fall into the 0820 postcode, including Larrakeyah, Cullen Bay, and Parap, are the next worse affected with 732 businesses signing up for JobKeeper.

Alice Springs, specifically the 0870 postcode, is third, with a total of 577 businesses on JobKeeper.

In total more than 7000 businesses in the NT are part of the scheme, with the top 10 postcodes making up nearly 3800 of all NT’s applications.

The Federal Government has been under pressure to extend the JobKeeper program past its September expiry.

Tourism Rebound Taskforce chairman Michael Bridge said NT tourism organisations were lobbying the Commonwealth to do this as operators in the Territory were significantly more exposed to financial hardship moving forward.

This is because it is unlikely the interstate and international tourism industry will bounce back before the end of NT’s busy dry season, leaving operators without income until 2021.

The scheme was intended to run until September 27, but is currently under review.

The results of the review into the wage subsidy are due on July 23, but the delaying of the June budget update until after it is released has sparked speculation that there could be a limited extension of the scheme or a tourism-specific recovery package.

Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the JobKeeper payment was an ‘economic lifeline’ to millions of workers. Picture: Sam Mooy/Getty Images

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the JobKeeper payment was an “economic lifeline” to millions of workers.

“Treasury estimate that in the absence of the $70 billion JobKeeper payment the unemployment rate would be five percentage points higher,” he said.

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The JobKeeper payment was introduced in March at the height of the COVID-19 outbreak in Australia.

Eligible employers and sole traders can apply to receive $1500 per employee per fortnight, paid by the Australian Taxation Office, to keep workers on the payroll.