Staggering figures reveal the Far North’s reliance on JobKeeper
EXTENSION A ‘NO-BRAINER’
A Federal member is saying it’s a “no-brainer” and the shire’s mayor believes it is imperative that the JobKeeper program continues beyond the September cut off.
Warren Entsch, the Federal Member for Leichhardt, said it was a “no-brainer” that JobKeeper should be extended in the Far North.
“Figures reveal that Cairns is the fifth highest recipient of JobKeeper payments in the country,” he said.
Cairns has the highest number of businesses reliant on JobKeeper in the state and is fifth overall in the entire country with over 3600 businesses while the Northern Beaches recorded 766. Cairns has more people on JobKeeper than Brisbane CBD.
Figures from the federal Treasury office have revealed the massive extent of Douglas businesses relying on JobKeeper.
It has been reported that 523 businesses in Port Douglas with the postal code 4877 applied for JobKeeper payments; and 328 businesses in Mossman with the postal code 4873.
“It’s a ‘no-brainer’ that we have to do this extension and I’m confident that it will happen,” said Entsch.
And here in the Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr said there would be 30 per cent unemployment when the program ends.
“We need two things to happen: the borders must be opened and JobKeeper must be extended,” said Kerr.
In a news.com.au article published this week, Sydney and Melbourne CBD were revealed to have the highest numbers of businesses on JobKeeper.
Liverpool in Sydney’s south west is in the Top Three regions most likely claiming the payment. It was reported that nearly 4000 businesses are relying on the wage subsidy to protect jobs.
The report says that Melbourne’s Hoppers’ Crossing in the city’s southwest is the next hardest hit taking out the number 4 spot in the nation for JobKeeper payments.
In stressing the importance of the extension, Entsch said the review that will be carried out this month, as it should be, will identify those industries or businesses that no longer require it.
“There will be others that are businesses that are identified that will never, ever recover without government support and need to be identified. But there are businesses and industries, like the tourism industry, that will need an extension well past September 27.”
The review into the wage subsidy is due on July 23.
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