Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the decision was about a change of gears to move from “short-term emergency measures to long-term arrangements”.
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“It is the single-largest increase in the JobSeeker payment since the mid-’80s, year-on-year,” Mr Morrison said at a press conference on Tuesday.
Social Services Minister Anne Ruston said 1.95 million people would receive the $50-a-fortnight rise in the base rate from April 1.
At the moment, with the $150 coronavirus supplement, unemployed households receive $715.70 a fortnight before considering other payments. The supplement is also paid to those on other government payments, such as Youth Allowance, Austudy and Parenting Payments.
About 240,000 single parents with a child…