18,000 Territorians could be left jobless if JobKeeper ends too soon, as data shows a third of all NT businesses rely on support

MORE than 1 in 10 employed Territorians are at risk of losing their jobs when the Federal Government’s JobKeeper program ends in September, as new data reveals a third of all businesses in the NT are dependent on the payment.

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MORE than 1 in 10 employed Territorians are at risk of losing their jobs when the Federal Government’s JobKeeper program ends in September, as new data reveals a third of all businesses in the NT are dependent on the payment.

The NT News can reveal 4777 business and organisations of the 14,303 that exist in the Territory are currently on JobKeeper.

An estimated 18,153 Territory workers, or a tenth of the 134,500 NT employee pool, are being supported by JobKeeper

Prime Minister Scott Morrison provides a coronavirus update at a press conference at Parliament House. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Martin Ollman

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who once dubbed the $70 billion scheme Australia’s “biggest economic lifeline” during the pandemic, indicated on Wednesday that there would be a “further phase” of JobKeeper “where there is need” past September.

But the Federal Government, despite now having the JobKeeper review report in its hands, is yet to provide certainty on what it will do next.

According to analysis done by Federal Labor, Territorian workers on JobKeeper could be forced into unemployment if the program ends “too early”, ripping an estimated $27 million out of the NT economy every fortnight.

Opposition Treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers called on the government to clarify the future of JobKeeper amid a COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria that has forced restrictions to be put brought back.

“The government could better target and taper it, but shouldn’t just turn off the tap when businesses are struggling with new restrictions,” he said.

“If the government continues to mismanage this recession it will be a jobless recovery – and nobody wants that.

“Having introduced support for the economy too narrowly and too slowly, Australians need to know that the government has a more comprehensive plan to support long-term growth and job creation.”

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The Federal Government is due to release an updated economic statement on July 23, which will include the future of JobKeeper and JobSeeker payments following the review completed in late June.