JobKeeper Extension: To Continue In A “Series of Phases”

Scott Morrison COVID-19 Update
The Prime Minister says further stimulus is coming post-September when the payments expire.

JobKeeper Extension: To Continue In A “Series of Phases”

The Prime Minister says further stimulus is coming post-September when the payments expire.
Scott Morrison COVID-19 Update
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JobKeeper and JobSeeker extension is coming.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is assuring Australians more support is on its way, though won’t reveal yet how much and for whom as part of JobKeeper extensions and Job Seeker extensions.

Ahead of the Government’s fiscal update on Thursday, Mr Morrison revealed more stimulus was coming for those either out of work or needing their wages subsidised.

“We have to look at our supports and our programmes as a series of phases and how many phases there are it is very difficult to say because there are so many uncertainties associated with COVID-19,” he said.

“So it (support) will be phased, and we will be announcing this week the next phase post-September. It will be targeted, it will be temporary, it will be effective as the first round has been”.

Also Read: Melbourne COVID-19 Update: Active Cases Near 3,000 With 275 New COVID-19 Cases Confirmed

Small business loans

The Prime Minister today confirmed loans of up to $1 million would be offered to about 3.5 million small businesses.

It marks a huge increase from the previous cap on loans of just $250,000.

The new loan guarantee will extend to June next year.

When asked if offering such loans was wise, and if small businesses would ever be able to pay it back, Mr Morrison said this was up to them.

“Decisions that businesses take about what capital they need, and how much they borrow, are judgements for them,” he said.

“They work that out with their banks, and they work it out with their accountants and their financial planners and they make sound judgements.”

Parliament cancelled

Mr Morrison defended the decision to cancel the next parliamentary sitting fortnight, formerly slated to kick off on August 4.

“The decision for the parliament not to sit for the next sitting fortnight was done on the basis of medical advice,” he said.

“It was frankly a no-brainer when it came to the medical advice and what was necessary, and I conveyed that to the Leader of the Opposition on Friday night and he agreed that for that next sitting fortnight that was not good sense to bring people from all over the country, particularly from Victoria, and to create that risk.”

However, the Opposition today pressed the importance of parliament not being delayed any further and “cancelled at every outbreak”.

Mr Morrison said he knew “how important it is for the Parliament to meet and to sit”.

“I think there is also somewhat of a consensus across certainly the major parties that it’s important that it sit in person,” he said.

“We will be seeking to do that when the Parliament next sits which is on the 24th of August and I would hope that we will be able to sit on that day, that is certainly my expectation and planning that we will be.”

More Australia and Perth COVID-19 news coverage on SoPerth.com.au.

Feature image: (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)