RESEARCH PAPER SERIES, 2020–21              UPDATED 8 September 2020

The impact of COVID-19 on JobSeeker Payment recipient numbers by electorate

Michael Klapdor

Social Policy Section

Executive summary

•        This Statistical Snapshot updates a previous version published 14 July 2020. The previous version provided estimates of the number of JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance (Other) recipients by electorate. This update reports administrative data which uses the address details of each recipient to determine their Commonwealth Electoral Division.

•        In the period December 2019 to July 2020, the number of people in receipt of the main income support payments for the unemployed almost doubled—from around 820,000 to 1,620,000.

•        The main unemployment-related income support payments are JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance (Other). JobSeeker Payment replaced Newstart Allowance and a number of other payments on 20 March 2020.

•        Job losses and reduced working hours resulting from government measures to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus have been the main driver of the increase in income support recipients.

•        A number of other factors have also affected recipient numbers including policy changes to expand eligibility for payments in response to COVID-19, the economic impact of the 2019–20 bushfires in many parts of Australia, and the introduction of the JobKeeper Payment (a wage subsidy).

•        Increases in the number of JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance (Other) recipients have varied significantly between electorates. Electorates in south-east Queensland, western Sydney and Melbourne’s west have seen some of the largest increases in the total number of recipients of these payments.

•        These electorates also saw a significant increase in the percentage of the estimated working age population receiving JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance (Other).

•        Electorates in Sydney’s eastern and northern suburbs, as well as Melbourne’s eastern suburbs have seen the largest percentage increases, but are coming off a low base of recipient numbers prior to 2020.

•        This Statistical Snapshot sets out a time-series of JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance (Other) recipient number estimates in each electorate for the period December 2019 to June 2020.

Introduction

In the period December 2019 to July 2020, the number of people in receipt of the main income support payments for the unemployed almost doubled—from around 820,000 to 1,620,000.[1] The main reasons for the increase are the COVID-19 pandemic, the social distancing measures and restrictions on businesses and services put in place by Australian governments in response to the pandemic, the job losses that have resulted, and temporary changes to social security to allow more people access to income support.

This Statistical Snapshot examines the impact these measures have had on income support recipient numbers by Commonwealth Electoral Division (CED) (electorate). A previous version of this paper made estimates for the impact on electorates for the period to May 2020 using data on recipients by Statistical Area 2 (SA2) published by the Department of Social Services (DSS).[2] This update uses actual electorate location data for payment recipients provided by DSS to the Senate Select Committee on COVID-19 for the period to June 2020.[3]

This Statistical Snapshot provides summary information on the main income support payments for the unemployed, key changes to these payments made as part of the Australian Government’s response to COVID-19, and an analysis of which electorates have been most affected by changes in income support recipient numbers.

Notes on the data

The previous version of this Statistical Snapshot was based on estimates of the number of recipients in each electorate derived from the SA2 data published in each DSS ‘JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance recipients monthly profile’ report using population correspondences created by the Parliamentary Library (based on small area population data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)).[4] This update reports administrative data which uses the address details of each recipient to determine their Commonwealth Electoral Division. This data was not available when the first Statistical Snapshot was published.

The estimates published in the previous version using SA2 data for JobSeeker Payment in May 2020 were within 0–3 per cent of the actual numbers provided by DSS to the Senate Select Committee on COVID-19. On average, the estimates for JobSeeker Payment were 0.05 per cent different from the actuals and the estimates for Youth Allowance (Other) were 0.04 per cent different from the actuals. For JobSeeker Payment, the electorates with the largest differences between the estimates and actuals (2.4–3.1 per cent) were Maribyrnong, Wright, Greenway and Warringah.

The use of actual data for electorates as at June 2020 instead of estimates as at May 2020 has not significantly affected the electorates considered to have experienced the biggest changes in recipient numbers since December 2019 (Tables 4–9 below). However, the order of the electorates in those tables has changed in some cases compared to the previous version. There are two differences in the electorates listed for two tables:

•        the ten electorates with the largest percentage increase in Youth Allowance (Other) recipients (Table 7 below)—the NSW seat of Barton is listed while the similar table in the previous version included the Victorian seat of Menzies and

•        the ten electorates with the largest increase in the percentage of the population aged 15–64 in receipt of either JobSeeker Payment or Youth Allowance (Other) from December 2019 to June 2020 (Table 8 below)—the Queensland seat of Rankin is listed while the similar table in the previous version included the Queensland seat of Fairfax.

In both cases, the seats no longer listed were just outside the list of the ten most affected according to those measures.

The source for Estimated Resident Population aged 15–64 (used for Tables 8 and 9) is the ABS and is for June 2018 (latest available).[5]

JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance (Other)

JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance (Other) are the main income support payments for those aged 16–65 who are able to work but who do not have the means to support themselves. Other payments may be made to working age people in certain circumstances including:

•        Parenting Payment for those caring for young children

•        Disability Support Pension for those unable to work due to a permanent physical, intellectual or psychiatric condition and

•        Carer Payment for those who provide constant care for someone with a severe disability or illness, or for a frail aged adult.

JobSeeker Payment

JobSeeker Payment is the new name for Newstart Allowance and commenced on 20 March 2020.[6] Two other payments with a small number of recipients have been merged into JobSeeker Payment: Sickness Allowance and Bereavement Allowance.[7]

JobSeeker Payment is paid to those aged between 22 and Age Pension age. It is paid to those looking for work or who are sick or injured and temporarily unable to do their normal work or study. Some JobSeeker Payment recipients are exempt from job search requirements or may have different kinds of activity requirements. This includes people with an illness or a disability that limits their ability to work, those caring for dependent children, and those aged 55 or older. To be eligible, an individual must normally meet residency requirements and income and assets tests.[8]

The maximum payment rate for JobSeeker Payment—including the Energy Supplement paid to all recipients—is $574.50 per fortnight for a single person with no children or $518.70 per fortnight for a partnered person (other payment rates apply in certain circumstances and additional supplements may be payable).[9] For the period 27 April 2020 to 24 September 2020, all JobSeeker Payment recipients also receive the Coronavirus Supplement worth $550 per fortnight.[10] From 25 September the rate of the supplement will be reduced to $250 per fortnight, before ceasing on 31 December 2020.[11]

Youth Allowance (Other)

Youth Allowance (Other)—that is, Youth Allowance for those other than full-time students or apprentices—is paid to those aged between 16 and 21 who are looking for full time work, studying part-time and looking for work, or temporarily unable to work.[12] It includes similar job search and activity requirements as JobSeeker Payment. Eligibility is also dependent on a person meeting residency requirements and income and assets tests. Those not considered independent from their parents or carers also need to meet a parental means test.[13]

The maximum payment rate for Youth Allowance (Other)—including the Energy Supplement paid to all recipients—for a single person aged 18 or over who lives at their parent’s home is $309.20 per fortnight or $469.50 per fortnight for a partnered person with no children (other payment rates apply in certain circumstances and additional supplements may be payable).[14] For the period 27 April 2020 to 24 September 2020, all Youth Allowance recipients will receive the Coronavirus Supplement worth $550 per fortnight.[15] From 25 September the rate of the supplement will be reduced to $250 per fortnight, before ceasing on 31 December 2020.[16]

COVID-19 Economic Response measures

In March 2020 the Government announced a number of temporary changes to JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance (Other) in response to COVID-19 which increased the number of people eligible for these payments and which will have had an impact on the number of recipients. The changes announced in March 2020 include:

•        expanding eligibility to provide access to sole traders and other self-employed people; permanent employees who have been stood down or who lost their job; and, people who are caring for someone affected by COVID-19

•        waiving the assets test

•        waiving the ordinary waiting period, liquid assets waiting period, newly arrived residents waiting period and the seasonal workers preclusion period and

•        making the partner income test more generous by lowering the amount payment rates are reduced by as a result of partner income.[17]

Most of these changes apply from 25 March 2020 until at least 24 September 2020.[18]

In addition, some temporary changes have been made to make the claims process easier including no longer requiring Employment Separation Certificates, proof of rental arrangements or the verification of a person’s relationship status. These changes also apply for the period 25 March to 24 September 2020.[19]

As noted above, for the period 27 April 2020 to 24 September 2020, all JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance recipients will receive the Coronavirus Supplement worth $550 per fortnight. This amount is not included in the income-tested rate component so the supplement does not expand eligibility. That is, the supplement does not increase the income-test cut-off point. If an individual is eligible for even one dollar of the standard JobSeeker Payment rate under the income test, they will receive the full amount of the Coronavirus Supplement. The Coronavirus Supplement is also being paid to a number of other payments including Parenting Payment, student payments, Special Benefit and the Farm Household Allowance.[20]

Changes to the Economic Response measures

On 21 July 2020 Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Families and Social Services Minister Anne Ruston announced changes to some of the income support measures outlined above:[21]

•        the expanded eligibility criteria, ordinary waiting period waiver, newly arrived residents waiting period waiver and seasonal worker preclusion period waiver will remain in place until 31 December 2020

•        the liquid assets waiting period and assets test waiver will end on 25 September 2020

•        the more generous partner income test will remain in place until 31 December 2020 but in a modified form

•        the Coronavirus Supplement amount will be reduced from $550 per fortnight to $250 per fortnight from 25 September to 31 December 2020.[22]

Further to these changes, the Government announced a new measure to allow recipients of JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance (Other) to earn more private income before their payment rate is reduced under the income test. From 25 September to 31 December 2020, the income-free area (the amount of income a person can earn before their payment rate is reduced) will increase from $106 per fortnight for JobSeeker Payment and $143 for Youth Allowance (Other) to $300 per fortnight. A person’s fortnightly payment rate will be reduced by 60 cents for each dollar of income over $300.[23]

This measure will allow these payment recipients to earn more income before having their payment rate reduced and will increase the income cut-off point at which a person’s JobSeeker Payment or Youth Allowance (Other) rate reaches zero under the income test.

Impact of COVID-19 on recipient numbers

As at 27 December 2019, there were 733,704 recipients of Newstart Allowance, Sickness Allowance and Bereavement Allowance. As at 31 July 2020, there were 1,450,265 recipients of JobSeeker Payment, the payment that replaced these allowances.[24] This represents an increase of 716,561 or 97.7 per cent. On 27 December 2019, there were 85,316 Youth Allowance (Other) recipients and on 31 July there were 171,248 (an increase of 85,932 or 100.7 per cent).[25] Combined, the total number of recipients of these payments increased from around 820,000 to around 1,620,000.

Table 1 sets out the number of recipients of the main working-age income support payments at selected points from 27 December 2019 to 26 June 2020.[26]

The sources for this data are DSS data reports and Answers to Questions on Notice from the Senate COVID-19 Committee. Data for Austudy in May is only available for 22 May, a week prior to the extraction dates for the other payments.

Table 1: selected income support payment recipients, December 2019–June 2020

Payment

27/12/2019

28/02/2020

27/03/2020

24/04/2020

29/05/2020

26/06/2020

Austudy

27 634

29 748

33 000

35 205

38 8071

41 391

Carer Payment

284 252

286 773

290 126

292 766

294 191

294 274

Disability Support Pension

751 773

752 047

752 191

753 336

754 201

754 181

JobSeeker Payment

792 814

1 221 419

1 463 863

1 441 287

Newstart Allowance

728 405

724 628

Parenting Payment Partnered

68 087

67 971

67 552

70 494

89 680

92 022

Parenting Payment Single

228 606

228 794

230 702

233 618

242 689

243 433

Youth Allowance (Other)

85 316

85 736

93 399

121 617

171 423

173 125

Youth Allowance (Student and Apprentice)

134 456

157 145

168 997

184 301

213 547

225 483

Combined Newstart Allowance2

733 704

730 136

Combined JobSeeker Payment2

797 941

1 224 555

1 472 678

1 441 293

(1) Austudy data is for 22 May 2020.

(2) Recipients of Combined Newstart Allowance and Combined JobSeeker Payment include recipients of Bereavement Allowance and Sickness Allowance as these payments have been subsumed into JobSeeker Payment. A small number of Sickness Allowance and Bereavement Allowance recipients were still to transfer to JobSeeker Payment during the period March–June.

Note: data is for recipients who are entitled to be paid at the point in time. Newstart Allowance and JobSeeker Payment numbers exclude those who have a zero-rate of payment.

Sources: Department of Social Services (DSS), ‘DSS Demographics December 2019’, data.gov.au website, last updated 21 April 2020; DSS, ‘JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance recipients monthly profile: June 2020’, data.gov.au website, last updated 17 July 2020; Senate Select Committee on COVID-19, Answers to written questions on notice by the Department of Social Services, Question reference number SQ20-000453, Question reference number SQ20-000474, Question reference number SQ20-000487.

Job losses and reduced working hours resulting from government measures to limit the spread of the virus have, undoubtedly, been the main driver of the increase in income support recipients. However, a number of other factors will have affected the growth in recipient numbers since December 2019:

•        policy changes to expand eligibility for payments in response to COVID-19

•        the economic impact of the 2019–20 bushfires in many parts of Australia and

•        the introduction of the JobKeeper Payment (a wage subsidy).

The introduction of the JobKeeper Payment will have reduced the number of people claiming social security payments by providing income to eligible individuals who have been stood down or who have had their working hours reduced, as well as subsidising the wages of businesses facing a downturn in revenue.

The JobKeeper Payment was announced on 30 March 2020 and provides $1,500 per fortnight to eligible employees paid through their employer.[27] The JobKeeper Payment is considered income for the purposes of the social security income test. This means that most people would be ineligible to receive both JobKeeper Payment and a social security payment at the same time.[28] However, some groups, including single parents, those aged 60 or over and some pensioners may be eligible to receive JobKeeper Payment and a part-rate social security payment.[29] This will depend on their specific circumstances such as whether they have any other sources of income.

On 21 July 2020, the Government announced changes to JobKeeper Payment which will apply from 28 September.[30] The changes include a two-tiered payment with a higher rate of payment for eligible employees working more than 20 hours per week. The payment rates will also be reduced with the new applicable rates set out in Table 2. The reduced JobKeeper Payment rates and changes to the JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance (Other) income test may see an increase in the number of people in receipt of both JobKeeper Payment and social security.

Table 2: JobKeeper Payment rates from 28 September 2020 to March 2021, per fortnight

Date

Full rate

<20hrs work per week rate

28 September 2020 to 3 January 2021

$1 200

$750

4 January 2021 to 28 March 2021

$1 000

$650

Source: S Morrison (Prime Minister), J Frydenberg (Treasurer) and A Ruston (Minister for Families and Social Services), JobKeeper payment and income support extended, media release, 21 July 2020.

Impact by state and territory

There have been significant differences in terms of the growth in recipient numbers in different states and territories. New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland have seen the largest increases in the total number of recipients and high percentage increases from December 2019 to June 2020. While the Australian Capital Territory has had the largest percentage increase in recipient numbers this comes off a very low base in December 2019. Table 3 sets out the change in recipient numbers for Newstart Allowance, Sickness Allowance and Youth Allowance (Other) in December 2019 and for JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance (Other) from March 2020.

Table 3: Newstart Allowance, Sickness Allowance, JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance (Other) recipients by state or territory, December 2019–June 2020

State or territory

Dec 2019

Mar 2020

Apr 2020

May 2020

Jun 2020

Difference Dec-19 to Jun-20

% change Dec-19 to Jun-20

NSW

225 900

246 745

385 307

476 784

470 253

+244 353

+108%

Vic.

179 049

194 745

312 895

389 229

384 126

+205 077

+115%

Qld.

191 903

211 563

317 217

379 687

375 034

+183 131

+95%

SA

73 738

78 839

108 145

126 375

124 942

+51 204

+69%

WA

98 318

106 038

148 956

181 348

178 913

+80 595

+82%

Tas.

24 561

25 963

34 322

39 857

39 514

+14 953

+61%

NT

18 656

19 960

23 744

26 369

26 283

+7 627

+41%

ACT

6 600

7 191

11 940

14 858

14 652

+8 052

+122%

Total

818 893

891 219

1 343 036

1 635 286

1 614 412

+816 393

+97%

Notes: December 2019 is the total number of recipients of Newstart Allowance, Sickness Allowance and Youth Allowance (Other). March 2020 is the total number of recipients of JobSeeker Payment, Sickness Allowance and Youth Allowance (Other). April 2020–June 2020 is the total number of recipients of JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance (Other). Data is point-in-time for the last Friday of the month.

Sources: DSS, ‘DSS Demographics December 2019’, data.gov.au website, last updated 21 April 2020; DSS, ‘DSS Demographics March 2020’, data.gov.au website, last updated 27 July 2020; DSS, ‘JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance recipients monthly profile: May 2020’, data.gov.au website, last updated 19 June 2020; DSS, ‘JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance recipients monthly profile: June 2020’, data.gov.au website, last updated 17 July 2020.

Impact by electorate

The impact of COVID-19 (and the other factors described above) on JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance (Other) recipient numbers has varied significantly between electorates. There are different ways of assessing the impact: increases in the total number of recipients, percentage increases and changes in the percentage of the working-age population receiving payments. This section assesses the impact on different electorates using each of these methods.

In terms of increases in the total number of JobSeeker Payment recipients, Coalition-held electorates in south-east Queensland and Labor-held electorates in western Sydney and Melbourne’s west have seen very large increases in recipient numbers, alongside Richmond in the north-east corner of New South Wales, Leichardt in far north Queensland and the Greens-held inner-city electorate of Melbourne. Table 4 sets out the ten electorates which saw the largest increase in recipient numbers of Newstart Allowance and Sickness Allowance in December 2019, to JobSeeker Payment in June 2020.

The lowest increases in total numbers were in the ACT and Tasmanian electorates; the NSW electorates of Parkes, Berowra and Riverina; and Capricornia in Queensland.

Table 4: electorates with the largest increase in the number of JobSeeker Payment recipients from December 2019 to June 2020

Electorate

State

Party

Newstart and Sickness Allowance–Dec 2019

JobSeeker Payment–Jun 2020

Difference Dec 19 to Jun 2020

% change Dec 19 to Jun 20

Moncrieff

Qld.

LNP

5 951

14 895

+8 944

+150.3%

Calwell

Vic.

ALP

8 422

16 505

+8 083

+96.0%

Fadden

Qld.

LNP

5 640

13 586

+7 946

+140.9%

Blaxland

NSW

ALP

6 446

14 295

+7 849

+121.8%

Lalor

Vic.

ALP

5 468

13 193

+7 725

+141.3%

Watson

NSW

ALP

4 955

12 488

+7 533

+152.0%

Leichhardt

Qld.

LNP

9 755

17 144

+7 389

+75.7%

Melbourne

Vic.

GRN

4 473

11 824

+7 351

+164.3%

Richmond

NSW

ALP

6 410

13 728

+7 318

+114.2%

McPherson

Qld.

LNP

3 977

11 270

+7 293

+183.4%

Sources: DSS, ‘DSS Demographics December 2019’, data.gov.au website, last updated 21 April 2020; Senate Select Committee on COVID-19, Answers to written questions on notice by the Department of Social Services, Question reference number SQ20-000486.

In terms of percentage increases, the electorates that have experienced the biggest change in JobSeeker Payment numbers are primarily Coalition-held electorates in Sydney’s east and north, and Melbourne’s inner-east (the exception is the Sydney seat of Warringah held by Independent MP Zali Steggall). These electorates are relatively wealthy and had few payment recipients prior to COVID-19. Hence, the large percentage increases are from a much lower base than other electorates. These electorates should not be considered the most affected by COVID-19—the actual increase in recipient numbers is much less than other electorates. The percentage increases do show that even prosperous areas have been affected.

Table 5 sets out the ten electorates which saw the largest percentage increase in recipient numbers of Newstart Allowance and Sickness Allowance in December 2019, to JobSeeker Payment in June 2020.

The lowest percentage increases were primarily in electorates which already had a relatively high number of income support recipients including Lingiari in the Northern Territory, Parkes and New England in New South Wales, Grey and Spence in South Australia, and Durack in Western Australia. The Tasmanian electorates of Bass and Braddon also saw below-50% increases in JobSeeker Payment recipients between December 2019 and June 2020.

Table 5: electorates with the largest percentage increase in JobSeeker Payment recipients from December 2019 to June 2020

Electorate

State

Party

Newstart and Sickness Allowance–Dec 2019

JobSeeker Payment–Jun 2020

Difference Dec 19 to Jun 20

% change – Dec 19 to Jun 20

Wentworth

NSW

LP

1 090

5 429

+4 339

+398.1%

Warringah

NSW

IND

1 031

4 539

+3 508

+340.3%

North Sydney

NSW

LP

1 080

4 694

+3 615

+334.8%

Bradfield

NSW

LP

977

4 180

+3 204

+328.1%

Mackellar

NSW

LP

1 256

5 049

+3 793

+302.0%

Kooyong

Vic.

LP

1 212

4 619

+3 407

+281.1%

Mitchell

NSW

LP

1 328

5 030

+3 702

+278.8%

Berowra

NSW

LP

1 137

4 027

+2 890

+254.2%

Reid

NSW

LP

2 217

7 796

+5 579

+251.6%

Higgins

Vic.

LP

1 766

6 135

+4 369

+247.4%

Sources: DSS, ‘DSS Demographics December 2019’, data.gov.au website, last updated 21 April 2020; Senate Select Committee on COVID-19, Answers to written questions on notice by the Department of Social Services, Question reference number SQ20-000486.

The largest increases in the total number of Youth Allowance (Other) recipients occurred in similar areas to JobSeeker Payment: south-east Queensland, the north-east New South Wales seat of Richmond, and Chifley in western Sydney. Table 6 sets out the ten electorates which saw the largest increase in Youth Allowance (Other) recipient numbers from December 2019 to June 2020.

Table 6: electorates with the largest increase in the number of Youth Allowance (Other) recipients from December 2019 to June 2020

Electorate

State

Party

Dec 2019

Jun 2020

Difference Dec 19 to Jun 20

% change – Dec 19 to Jun 20

Fadden

Qld.

LNP

660

1 819

+1 159

+175.6%

Forde

Qld.

LNP

1 032

2 132

+1 100

+106.6%

Moncrieff

Qld.

LNP

571

1 665

+1 094

+191.6%

Leichhardt

Qld.

LNP

1 194

2 288

+1 094

+91.6%

Richmond

NSW

ALP

614

1 660

+1 046

+170.4%

Chifley

NSW

ALP

749

1 791

+1 042

+139.1%

Longman

Qld.

LNP

1 175

2 209

+1 034

+88.0%

McPherson

Qld.

LNP

389

1 386

+997

+256.3%

Fisher

Qld.

LNP

636

1 628

+992

+156.0%

Blair

Qld.

ALP

1 380

2 365

+985

+71.4%

Sources: DSS, ‘DSS Demographics December 2019’, data.gov.au website, last updated 21 April 2020; Senate Select Committee on COVID-19, Answers to written questions on notice by the Department of Social Services, Question reference number SQ20-000486.

In terms of percentage increases, the electorates which have seen the biggest change are also primarily Coalition-held seats in Sydney’s east and north, the Labor-held seat of Barton and the Independent-held seat of Warringah (also in Sydney). These electorates all had relatively few Youth Allowance (Other) recipients in December 2019. The increase in the total number of recipients in these electorates is much smaller than in other electorates and these seats should not be considered the most affected by COVID-19.

Table 7 sets out the ten electorates which have had the largest percentage increase in Youth Allowance (Other) recipients from December 2019 to June 2020.

Table 7: electorates with the largest percentage increase in Youth Allowance (Other) recipients from December 2019 to June 2020

Electorate

State

Party

Dec 2019

Jun 2020

Difference Dec 19 to Jun 20

% change – Dec 19 to Jun 20

Mackellar

NSW

LP

64

388

+324

+506.3%

Wentworth

NSW

LP

39

211

+172

+441.0%

Warringah

NSW

IND

62

307

+245

+395.2%

North Sydney

NSW

LP

35

166

+131

+374.3%

Cook

NSW

LP

102

443

+341

+334.3%

Berowra

NSW

LP

71

298

+227

+319.7%

Bradfield

NSW

LP

47

192

+145

+308.5%

Hughes

NSW

LP

124

495

+371

+299.2%

Barton

NSW

ALP

161

637

+476

+295.7%

Mitchell

NSW

LP

98

381

+283

+288.8%

Sources: DSS, ‘DSS Demographics December 2019’, data.gov.au website, last updated 21 April 2020; Senate Select Committee on COVID-19, Answers to written questions on notice by the Department of Social Services, Question reference number SQ20-000486.

Another way of considering the impact of COVID-19 by electorate is examining the number of payment recipients as a proportion of the working-age population. This analysis uses ABS data from June 2018 on the estimated resident population in each electorate aged 15–64. This does not provide an exact measure but provides an indication of the percentage of the eligible population group in an electorate receiving payments and how this has changed as a result of COVID-19.

Table 8 sets out the electorates with the biggest change in the estimated percentage of the population in receipt of Newstart Allowance and Sickness Allowance + Youth Allowance (Other) in December 2019 and in receipt of JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance (Other) in June 2020.

Table 8: electorates with the largest increase in the percentage of the population aged 15–64 in receipt of either JobSeeker Payment or Youth Allowance (Other) from December 2019 to June 2020

Electorate

State

Party

Newstart Allowance and Sickness Allowance + Youth Allowance (Other) Dec 2019 as % of pop. 15–64

JobSeeker Payment + Youth Allowance (Other) Jun 2020 as % of pop. 15–64

Percentage point difference December 2019 to Jun 2020

Moncrieff

Qld.

LNP

5.1%

12.9%

+7.8

Richmond

NSW

ALP

6.2%

13.6%

+7.4

McPherson

Qld.

LNP

3.8%

11.1%

+7.2

Calwell

Vic.

ALP

7.1%

14.0%

+6.9

Leichhardt

Qld.

LNP

8.2%

14.6%

+6.4

Wide Bay

Qld.

LNP

8.2%

14.4%

+6.2

Fadden

Qld.

LNP

4.3%

10.5%

+6.2

Hinkler

Qld.

LNP

10.4%

16.5%

+6.1

Lalor

Vic.

ALP

4.3%

10.4%

+6.1

Rankin

Qld.

LNP

6.8%

12.7%

+5.9

Sources: Parliamentary Library estimates based on DSS, ‘DSS Demographics December 2019’, data.gov.au website, last updated 21 April 2020; Senate Select Committee on COVID-19, Answers to written questions on notice by the Department of Social Services, Question reference number SQ20-000486. Source for ERP ages 15-64 is Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Regional population by age and sex, Australia 2018, cat. no. 3235.0, ABS, Canberra, 29 August 2019.

Lingiari and Hinkler remained the electorates with the largest proportion of the working-age population in receipt of these income support payments in December 2019 and June 2020. A number of electorates experienced significant increases in the proportion of people receiving income support during this period to place them amongst the ten electorates with the highest percentage of the working-age population reliant on JobSeeker Payment or Youth Allowance (Other). These include Calwell, Richmond and Moncrieff.

Table 9 sets out those electorates estimated to have the largest percentage of the population aged 15–64 in receipt of JobSeeker Payment or Youth Allowance (Other) in December 2019 and in June 2020.

Table 9: electorates with the largest percentage of the population aged 15–64 in receipt of either JobSeeker Payment or Youth Allowance (Other) in December 2019 and June 2020

December 2019

June 2020

Electorate

State

Party

%

Electorate

State

Party

%

Lingiari

NT

ALP

15.0%

Lingiari

NT

ALP

19.5%

Hinkler

Qld.

LNP

10.4%

Hinkler

Qld.

LNP

16.5%

Spence

SA

ALP

10.0%

Spence

SA

ALP

14.8%

Grey

SA

LP

9.3%

Leichhardt

Qld.

LNP

14.6%

Durack

WA

LP

8.6%

Wide Bay

Qld.

LNP

14.4%

Page

NSW

NATS

8.6%

Calwell

Vic.

ALP

14.0%

Leichhardt

Qld.

LNP

8.2%

Page

NSW

NATS

13.9%

Wide Bay

Qld.

LNP

8.2%

Richmond

NSW

ALP

13.6%

Braddon

Tas.

LP

8.1%

Grey

SA

LP

13.1%

Parkes

NSW

NATS

7.8%

Moncrieff

Qld.

LNP

12.9%

Sources: Parliamentary Library estimates based on DSS, ‘DSS Demographics December 2019’, data.gov.au website, last updated 21 April 2020; Senate Select Committee on COVID-19, Answers to written questions on notice by the Department of Social Services, Question reference number SQ20-000486. Source for ERP ages 15-64 is Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Regional population by age and sex, Australia 2018, cat. no. 3235.0, ABS, Canberra, 29 August 2019.

Changes by electorate

Table 10 sets out the number of recipients of these payments in each electorate on the last Friday in December 2019, March 2020, April 2020, May 2020 and June 2020. Data for Sickness Allowance by electorate or SA2 for January and February 2020 has not been published.

Table 10: Newstart Allowance and Sickness Allowance, JobSeeker Payment, and Youth Allowance (Other) recipients by Commonwealth Electoral Division, December 2019–June 2020

State or territory

Division

Newstart Allowance + Sickness Allowance

JobSeeker Payment1

Youth Allowance (Other)

Dec-19

Mar-20

Apr-20

May-20

Jun-20

Dec-19

Mar-20

Apr-20

May-20

Jun-20

NSW

Banks

2 983

3 244

6 217

8 043

7 936

173

181

310

552

561

NSW

Barton

2 987

3 353

7 177

9 694

9 506

161

174

320

590

637

NSW

Bennelong

2 135

2 345

5 101

7 131

7 049

128

111

196

371

387

NSW

Berowra

1 137

1 265

2 784

4 092

4 027

71

72

123

299

298

NSW

Blaxland

6 446

7 047

11 702

14 585

14 295

363

400

666

1 165

1 259

NSW

Bradfield

977

1 128

2 876

4 282

4 180

47

48

93

199

192

NSW

Calare

5 303

5 677

7 595

8 490

8 409

807

909

1 099

1 401

1 402

NSW

Chifley

6 884

7 391

10 696

13 041

12 965

749

861

1 142

1 714

1 791

NSW

Cook

1 586

1 837

4 123

5 451

5 307

102

101

218

449

443

NSW

Cowper

7 765

8 449

11 608

12 964

12 773

1 109

1 255

1 560

2 014

2 016

NSW

Cunningham

4 595

4 966

7 568

8 673

8 495

582

612

819

1 111

1 130

NSW

Dobell

5 585

6 151

9 101

10 517

10 269

810

873

1 149

1 562

1 570

NSW

Eden-Monaro

3 627

4 024

6 030

7 115

6 940

407

460

595

887

887

NSW

Farrer

5 785

6 092

8 135

9 267

9 098

754

806

1 028

1 381

1 401

NSW

Fowler

9 121

9 805

13 611

15 995

15 984

498

547

812

1 211

1 275

NSW

Gilmore

5 469

5 892

8 490

9 800

9 462

683

784

981

1 342

1 324

NSW

Grayndler

2 728

2 994

6 429

7 973

7 806

137

139

239

457

458

NSW

Greenway

3 444

3 885

6 593

8 596

8 472

347

378

537

876

906

NSW

Hughes

1 434

1 629

3 356

4 572

4 493

124

141

239

486

495

NSW

Hume

3 029

3 333

5 302

6 588

6 472

302

344

518

868

855

NSW

Hunter

5 516

5 930

8 398

9 576

9 476

834

921

1 148

1 505

1 507

NSW

Kingsford Smith

2 461

2 698

5 704

7 526

7 292

155

143

257

505

530

NSW

Lindsay

4 899

5 458

8 394

10 146

10 046

631

752

1 024

1 468

1 492

NSW

Lyne

6 353

6 818

9 039

10 245

10 029

823

955

1 168

1 475

1 481

NSW

Macarthur

5 206

5 792

9 228

11 604

11 471

652

707

1 016

1 503

1 565

NSW

Mackellar

1 256

1 453

3 625

5 202

5 049

64

78

156

400

388

NSW

Macquarie

3 011

3 317

5 435

6 643

6 497

322

356

542

802

773

NSW

McMahon

7 646

8 352

11 631

13 871

13 818

541

578

798

1 261

1 342

NSW

Mitchell

1 328

1 531

3 591

5 121

5 030

98

105

181

375

381

NSW

New England

6 559

7 049

8 836

9 761

9 644

1 124

1 235

1 443

1 744

1 735

NSW

Newcastle

5 272

5 688

8 751

9 682

9 402

740

815

1 029

1 347

1 370

NSW

North Sydney

1 080

1 238

3 268

4 815

4 694

35

37

70

163

166

NSW

Page

7 853

8 496

11 242

12 757

12 558

1 106

1 254

1 513

1 948

1 968

NSW

Parkes

7 480

7 865

9 571

10 348

10 263

1 258

1 417

1 601

1 928

1 960

NSW

Parramatta

4 652

5 138

8 769

11 317

11 163

282

276

462

717

753

NSW

Paterson

5 749

6 305

9 063

10 321

10 077

941

1 071

1 349

1 786

1 808

NSW

Reid

2 217

2 488

5 732

8 003

7 796

105

91

192

374

394

NSW

Richmond

6 410

6 953

12 113

14 188

13 728

614

694

1 058

1 658

1 660

NSW

Riverina

5 349

5 760

7 430

8 353

8 233

797

883

1 066

1 375

1 358

NSW

Robertson

4 090

4 493

7 251

8 724

8 577

471

533

708

1 086

1 091

NSW

Shortland

4 202

4 661

6 857

7 948

7 814

633

700

907

1 260

1 275

NSW

Sydney

3 916

4 262

8 639

10 850

10 715

176

203

279

449

439

NSW

Warringah

1 031

1 151

3 136

4 697

4 539

62

64

117

301

307

NSW

Watson

4 955

5 443

10 111

12 793

12 488

280

299

528

902

953

NSW

Wentworth

1 090

1 271

3 958

5 634

5 429

39

50

89

214

211

NSW

Werriwa

6 464

7 044

10 530

13 080

13 032

472

530

784

1 305

1 416

NSW

Whitlam

4 547

4 878

7 336

8 464

8 364

656

758

1 003

1 378

1 407

Vic.

Aston

3 090

3 339

5 940

7 652

7 459

247

280

410

692

664

Vic.

Ballarat

5 405

5 857

8 432

9 492

9 345

736

817

1 035

1 328

1 330

Vic.

Bendigo

5 130

5 505

7 715

9 026

8 835

653

686

905

1 254

1 228

Vic.

Bruce

6 936

7 567

11 396

14 213

14 057

562

610

831

1 265

1 334

Vic.

Calwell

8 422

9 161

13 715

16 586

16 505

801

846

1 124

1 675

1 687

Vic.

Casey

3 258

3 537

5 900

7 444

7 217

324

317

490

849

845

Vic.

Chisholm

2 348

2 578

5 088

6 799

6 764

199

194

276

396

400

Vic.

Cooper

4 368

4 814

9 018

10 656

10 418

295

340

447

666

658

Vic.

Corangamite

2 900

3 093

5 840

7 127

6 931

295

285

479

811

817

Vic.

Corio

5 624

5 997

8 733

9 916

9 754

674

740

963

1 292

1 289

Vic.

Deakin

3 045

3 381

5 791

7 178

7 077

257

240

366

593

624

Vic.

Dunkley

4 675

5 025

7 851

9 607

9 456

453

486

703

1 061

1 064

Vic.

Flinders

3 505

3 800

6 383

7 752

7 510

291

314

490

853

861

Vic.

Fraser

7 896

8 534

12 496

14 998

14 898

480

489

667

1 017

1 054

Vic.

Gellibrand

4 281

4 613

7 859

9 835

9 742

298

293

425

661

649

Vic.

Gippsland

6 787

7 257

9 238

10 635

10 533

808

874

1 043

1 344

1 340

Vic.

Goldstein

1 603

1 772

3 770

5 112

4 994

82

88

165

307

301

Vic.

Gorton

6 127

6 784

10 544

13 059

12 857

642

687

928

1 369

1 381

Vic.

Higgins

1 766

2 031

4 913

6 305

6 135

99

94

164

328

332

Vic.

Holt

4 800

5 336

8 865

11 447

11 373

578

643

850

1 361

1 397

Vic.

Hotham

2 915

3 285

6 204

8 032

7 876

183

194

293

509

518

Vic.

Indi

4 594

4 914

6 867

8 188

8 064

524

572

727

1 030

1 044

Vic.

Isaacs

2 940

3 200

5 768

7 404

7 283

196

214

318

543

559

Vic.

Jagajaga

2 654

2 872

5 182

6 428

6 269

171

197

283

460

465

Vic.

Kooyong

1 212

1 373

3 558

4 809

4 619

72

67

120

250

260

Vic.

La Trobe

3 578

3 985

7 036

9 088

8 987

389

455

641

1 062

1 061

Vic.

Lalor

5 468

6 065

10 276

13 323

13 193

581

616

852

1 272

1 321

Vic.

Macnamara

3 052

3 453

7 480

9 464

9 375

136

138

229

410

425

Vic.

Mallee

6 426

6 743

8 594

9 757

9 712

757

830

1 004

1 341

1 316

Vic.

Maribyrnong

3 664

4 133

7 624

9 217

9 025

237

257

406

642

651

Vic.

McEwen

3 039

3 390

5 916

7 589

7 497

327

367

513

832

836

Vic.

Melbourne

4 473

4 964

10 093

11 981

11 824

264

247

397

578

583

Vic.

Menzies

1 879

2 102

4 488

6 066

5 946

99

101

197

379

361

Vic.

Monash

5 299

5 630

7 839

9 229

9 131

473

518

705

1 027

1 042

Vic.

Nicholls

6 172

6 587

8 506

9 623

9 511

698

757

947

1 294

1 288

Vic.

Scullin

5 064

5 497

8 880

11 095

10 964

440

458

657

1 027

1 036

Vic.

Wannon

5 411

5 789

7 673

8 656

8 546

640

698

885

1 152

1 135

Vic.

Wills

3 974

4 476

9 010

10 741

10 504

287

292

465

750

764

Qld.

Blair

7 400

8 159

11 007

12 914

12 851

1 380

1 491

1 824

2 329

2 365

Qld.

Bonner

3 192

3 553

5 922

7 414

7 274

405

421

591

876

886

Qld.

Bowman

3 963

4 371

6 861

8 426

8 365

478

513

697

1 082

1 068

Qld.

Brisbane

3 854

4 231

8 440

9 999

9 889

348

341

575

846

853

Qld.

Capricornia

5 335

5 738

7 400

8 369

8 234

786

859

1 062

1 410

1 396

Qld.

Dawson

5 245

5 859

8 752

10 037

9 853

679

779

1 001

1 413

1 418

Qld.

Dickson

3 553

3 946

6 332

7 703

7 488

598

673

857

1 216

1 212

Qld.

Fadden

5 640

6 340

11 623

13 802

13 586

660

826

1 190

1 841

1 819

Qld.

Fairfax

4 835

5 342

9 448

11 207

10 907

634

736

1 096

1 570

1 582

Qld.

Fisher

4 607

5 057

8 845

10 665

10 352

636

745

1 098

1 610

1 628

Qld.

Flynn

7 034

7 553

9 549

10 720

10 695

976

1 078

1 275

1 602

1 577

Qld.

Forde

6 405

7 040

10 845

13 215

13 107

1 032

1 153

1 499

2 102

2 132

Qld.

Griffith

3 598

4 072

7 697

9 355

9 180

374

408

617

927

926

Qld.

Groom

5 191

5 605

7 589

8 602

8 504

1 016

1 074

1 308

1 698

1 686

Qld.

Herbert

7 211

7 758

10 653

11 975

11 863

1 173

1 270

1 548

2 047

2 034

Qld.

Hinkler

7 707

8 403

11 046

12 229

12 091

1 158

1 302

1 577

1 968

1 964

Qld.

Kennedy

8 733

9 464

12 073

13 565

13 389

1 148

1 324

1 544

1 955

2 020

Qld.

Leichhardt

9 755

10 626

16 003

17 410

17 144

1 194

1 415

1 742

2 284

2 288

Qld.

Lilley

3 971

4 373

7 469

8 911

8 687

477

527

715

1 009

1 019

Qld.

Longman

7 034

7 697

10 865

12 766

12 682

1 175

1 300

1 630

2 167

2 209

Qld.

Maranoa

5 755

6 210

7 717

8 904

8 948

881

1 008

1 197

1 509

1 499

Qld.

McPherson

3 977

4 523

9 407

11 584

11 270

389

489

857

1 409

1 386

Qld.

Moncrieff

5 951

6 637

12 922

15 205

14 895

571

674

1 025

1 637

1 665

Qld.

Moreton

4 327

4 803

7 968

9 744

9 526

507

554

698

1 009

985

Qld.

Oxley

6 250

7 101

10 356

12 457

12 297

924

1 064

1 335

1 786

1 823

Qld.

Petrie

5 656

6 272

9 644

11 647

11 505

888

1 004

1 337

1 805

1 806

Qld.

Rankin

7 787

8 781

12 611

14 926

14 771

1 301

1 373

1 725

2 240

2 236

Qld.

Ryan

2 104

2 323

4 413

5 743

5 659

295

279

410

646

651

Qld.

Wide Bay

6 951

7 416

10 808

12 397

12 180

1 006

1 100

1 394

1 845

1 832

Qld.

Wright

5 086

5 704

8 416

10 408

10 278

667

806

1 073

1 515

1 566

SA

Adelaide

6 455

6 916

10 751

12 415

12 128

539

537

695

970

1 012

SA

Barker

6 936

7 380

9 374

10 719

10 623

766

855

1 019

1 367

1 390

SA

Boothby

4 390

4 775

7 518

8 718

8 586

423

425

587

820

814

SA

Grey

9 656

10 159

12 326

13 537

13 449

1 152

1 269

1 455

1 754

1 747

SA

Hindmarsh

6 109

6 570

9 673

11 242

11 017

574

618

794

1 090

1 089

SA

Kingston

6 695

7 095

10 016

11 528

11 362

853

936

1 148

1 559

1 557

SA

Makin

5 729

6 184

8 828

10 448

10 275

630

683

899

1 234

1 240

SA

Mayo

4 609

5 018

7 443

8 857

8 686

474

516

684

1 056

1 039

SA

Spence

12 144

12 930

15 885

17 828

17 864

1 602

1 654

1 920

2 345

2 371

SA

Sturt

3 684

3 997

6 708

8 228

8 035

319

329

428

664

662

WA

Brand

7 013

7 557

10 489

12 592

12 422

953

1 002

1 206

1 679

1 665

WA

Burt

7 527

8 149

11 000

13 160

12 964

1 084

1 145

1 305

1 695

1 734

WA

Canning

5 955

6 395

8 654

10 348

10 238

767

828

1 033

1 377

1 411

WA

Cowan

5 524

6 047

8 725

10 482

10 336

644

683

877

1 246

1 281

WA

Curtin

2 042

2 244

4 185

5 297

5 131

157

163

236

382

374

WA

Durack

9 751

10 425

12 665

14 323

14 349

1 323

1 508

1 680

2 145

2 196

WA

Forrest

5 599

5 968

8 660

10 345

10 164

719

771

969

1 379

1 380

WA

Fremantle

5 085

5 534

8 378

10 166

9 929

548

613

762

1 067

1 061

WA

Hasluck

5 380

5 818

7 924

9 463

9 230

679

710

873

1 163

1 199

WA

Moore

2 662

2 889

4 979

6 446

6 200

264

296

434

726

716

WA

O'Connor

6 474

6 855

8 527

9 869

9 867

684

728

885

1 226

1 248

WA

Pearce

6 290

6 798

9 991

12 410

12 074

906

984

1 233

1 762

1 792

WA

Perth

5 072

5 488

8 644

10 274

10 089

426

416

547

794

795

WA

Stirling

5 471

5 826

8 781

10 384

10 140

518

510

663

885

918

WA

Swan

5 635

6 186

9 221

10 969

10 824

663

691

870

1 197

1 230

WA

Tangney

2 247

2 532

4 190

5 555

5 386

205

231

306

468

485

Tas.

Bass

5 271

5 550

7 080

7 958

7 888

819

821

980

1 206

1 220

Tas.

Braddon

4 767

4 998

6 207

7 089

7 034

778

780

880

1 070

1 064

Tas.

Clark

3 719

3 971

5 811

6 546

6 474

608

611

759

929

922

Tas.

Franklin

2 970

3 206

4 602

5 485

5 408

528

526

663

886

857

Tas.

Lyons

4 559

4 829

6 514

7 650

7 588

675

674

823

1 036

1 057

NT

Lingiari

12 619

13 138

14 802

15 952

15 991

1 666

1 984

2 174

2 469

2 551

NT

Solomon

3 872

4 299

6 094

7 065

6 867

526

576

725

945

942

ACT

Bean

2 023

2 170

3 488

4 278

4 233

241

257

360

568

577

ACT

Canberra

1 814

1 957

3 359

4 075

4 036

185

185

270

410

396

ACT

Fenner

2 079

2 344

4 085

4 988

4 857

258

284

419

606

618

(1) March 2020 is the sum of JobSeeker Payment and Sickness Allowance as some Sickness Allowance recipients had not been transferred to JobSeeker Payment by the date the data was extracted. Sickness Allowance by electorate data not available for the period April 2020–June 2020 and the number of recipients rapidly decreased during this period as recipients were transferred to JobSeeker Payment.

Sources: DSS, ‘DSS Demographics December 2019’, data.gov.au website, last updated 21 April 2020; DSS, ‘DSS Demographics March 2020’, data.gov.au website, last updated 27 July 2020; Senate Select Committee on COVID-19, Answers to written questions on notice by the Department of Social Services, Question reference number SQ20-000486.

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[1].               Department of Social Services (DSS), ‘JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance recipients monthly profile: June 2020’, data.gov.au website, last updated 17 July 2020. All hyperlinks correct as at August 2020.

[2].               M Klapdor and C Giuliano, The impact of COVID-19 on JobSeeker Payment recipient numbers by electorate, Research paper series, 2020–21, Parliamentary Library, Canberra, 14 July 2020.

[3].               Senate Select Committee on COVID-19, Answers to written questions on notice by the Department of Social Services, Question reference number SQ20-000486.

[4].               DSS, ‘JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance recipients monthly profile: June 2020’, op. cit.

[5].               Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Regional population by age and sex, Australia 2018, cat. no. 3235.0, ABS, Canberra, 29 August 2019.

[6].               Services Australia (SA), ‘JobSeeker Payment’, SA website, last updated 27 August 2020.

[7].               D Arthur, ‘JobSeeker Payment: a quick guide’, Research paper series, 2019–20, Parliamentary Library, Canberra, 13 March 2020.

[8].               SA, ‘JobSeeker Payment’, op. cit.

[9].               SA, ‘JobSeeker Payment: How much you can get’, SA website, last updated 27 August 2020; SA, ‘Energy Supplement: How much you can get: Payment rates on a pension or allowance’, SA website, last updated 29 May 2020.

[10].               SA, ‘Coronavirus Supplement: How much you can get’, SA website, last updated 27 August 2020.

[11].               S Morrison (Prime Minister), J Frydenberg (Treasurer) and A Ruston (Minister for Families and Social Services), JobKeeper payment and income support extended, media release, 21 July 2020.

[12].               SA, ‘Youth Allowance for jobseekers’, SA website, last updated 17 August 2020.

[13].               SA, ‘Youth Allowance for students and apprentices: How much you can get: Income test’, SA website, last updated 13 August 2020.

[14].               SA, ‘Youth Allowance for jobseekers: How much you can get’, SA website, last updated 27 August 2020; SA, ‘Energy Supplement: How much you can get: Payment rates on Youth Allowance’, SA website, last updated 29 May 2020.

[15].               SA, ‘Coronavirus Supplement: How much you can get’, op. cit.

[16].               S Morrison (Prime Minister), J Frydenberg (Treasurer) and A Ruston (Minister for Families and Social Services), op. cit.

[17].               DSS, ‘Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support’, DSS website, last updated 5 August 2020.

[18].               The waiver of the ordinary waiting period commenced 12 March 2020 via the Social Security (Ordinary Waiting Period Exemption) Instrument 2020 and was extended until at least 24 September 2020 by the Social Security (Coronavirus Economic Response—2020 Measures No. 7) Determination 2020. DSS, ‘Government response to Coronavirus’, Social security guide, DSS website, last reviewed 1 July 2020.

[19].               Ibid.

[20].               SA, ‘Coronavirus Supplement: Who can get it’, SA website, last updated 14 August 2020.

[21].               See M Klapdor, Changes to the COVID-19 social security measures: a brief assessment, Research paper series, 2020–21, Parliamentary Library, Canberra, 30 July 2020.

[22].               S Morrison (Prime Minister), J Frydenberg (Treasurer) and A Ruston (Minister for Families and Social Services), op. cit.

[23].               Ibid.

[24].               DSS, ‘JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance recipients monthly profile: June 2020’, data.gov.au website, last updated 17 July 2020.

[25].               Ibid.

[26].               Comparable data not available for all payments for 31 July 2020.

[27].               S Morrison (Prime Minister) and J Frydenberg (Treasurer), $130 billion jobkeeper payment to keep Australians in a job, media release, 30 March 2020.

[28].               SA, ‘JobSeeker Payment: Getting JobKeeper payment’, SA website, last updated 15 August 2020.

[29].               See details of the income limits for various payments in SA, A guide to Australian Government payments: 1 July–19 September 2020, SA, 2020, pp. 37–41.

[30].               S Morrison (Prime Minister), J Frydenberg (Treasurer) and A Ruston (Minister for Families and Social Services), op. cit.