New numbers reveal that around 20 600 workers in Macarthur could be worse off and up to $18 380 700 will be ripped out of the Macarthur economy every fortnight if the Morrison Government goes ahead with its cuts to JobKeeper at the end of September.

With nearly one million Australians unemployed and unemployment expected to increase, it makes no sense for the Morrison Government to be withdrawing support without a comprehensive jobs plan to replace it.

Local Labor Member for Macarthur, Dr Mike Freelander MP, has warned that Morrison Government’s planned JobKeeper cuts on 28 September will make the recession worse.

“Scott Morrison should reconsider his cuts to JobKeeper. These cuts are coming at the worst possible time for many workers, businesses and communities who are relying on economic stimulus,” Dr Freelander said

From Monday 28 September, cuts and changes to the JobKeeper scheme will see local businesses and workers lose access completely, while others will have their payments slashed by between $300 and $750 per fortnight.

The premature withdrawal of JobKeeper support follows the Morrison Government’s decision to exclude millions of workers from the program, including over a million casual workers.  

In recent days, concerns around compliance with JobKeeper’s rules by some businesses have surfaced, with 8,000 tip-offs reported to the Australian Tax Office – many concerning deliberate underpayments of the wage subsidies.

“JobKeeper’s potential to do so much good and help protect Australians in the depths of this recession is being curtailed by Scott Morrison’s botched implementation, poor compliance enforcement, and premature cuts,” said Dr Mike Freelander MP.

“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.”

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

“In order to support job creation in Macarthur and our economic recovery, it is essential that the Government invests in infrastructure for our region, as a priority.”

“It is critical that we fund nation building projects, such as a new rail line between Macarthur and the new airport, as a priority to support local jobs and local businesses alike.”