14
July 2020
PDF version [734KB]
Michael
Klapdor
Social Policy Section
Christopher Giuliano
Statistics and Mapping Section
Executive
summary
- In the period December 2019 to May 2020, the number of people in
receipt of the main income support payments for the unemployed doubled—from
around 820,000 to 1,640,000.
- 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) 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 May 2020.
Contents
Executive summary
Introduction
Notes on the data and methodology
JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance
(Other)
JobSeeker Payment
Youth Allowance (Other)
Changes in response to COVID-19
Impact of COVID-19 on recipient
numbers
Table 1: selected income support
payment recipients, December 2019–May 2020
Impact by state and territory
Table 2: Newstart Allowance and
Sickness Allowance, JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance (Other) recipients by
state or territory, December 2019–May 2020
Impact by electorate
Table 3: electorates with the largest
increase in the number of JobSeeker Payment recipients from December 2019 to
May 2020
Table 4: electorates with the largest
percentage increase in JobSeeker Payment recipients from December 2019 to May
2020
Table 5: electorates with the largest
increase in the number of Youth Allowance (Other) recipients from December 2019
to May 2020
Table 6: electorates with the largest
percentage increase in Youth Allowance (Other) recipients from December 2019 to
May 2020
Table 7: 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 May 2020
Table 8: 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 May 2020
Changes by electorate
Table 9: estimates of Newstart
Allowance and Sickness Allowance, JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance (Other)
recipients by Commonwealth Electoral Division, December 2019–May 2020
Introduction
In the period December 2019 to May 2020,
the number of people in receipt of the main income support payments for the
unemployed doubled—from around 820,000 to 1,640,000.[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). The estimates for electorates are based on administrative
data on recipients by Statistical Area 2 published by the Department of Social
Services (DSS). Recipient location data after December 2019 is currently only
available for JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance (Other) so the analysis is
limited to these payments.
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 and methodology
DSS has published data for all the main social security
payments by electorate for December 2019.[2]
For March–May 2020, estimates for each electorate have been derived from the
Statistical Area 2 (SA2) data published in each ‘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)).[3]
The SA2 to Commonwealth Electoral Division correspondence was prepared by the
Parliamentary Library based on ABS mesh block data and ABS Estimated Resident
Population (ERP) data by SA1 as at June 2019.
Where an SA2 crosses CED boundaries, the proportion of the
June 2019 ERP in those electorates was used to apportion payment recipient
numbers. Due to the conversion of SA2 to CED by ERP, the March, April and May
figures are estimates by CED and should be considered indicative only. December
2019 figures are by CED at the source.
The data published by DSS does not disclose the exact number
of recipients in an SA2 where it is less than five in order to protect the
confidentiality of these recipients. The Parliamentary Library has used an
average of the number of recipients in those SA2s with less than five
recipients to estimate electorate number totals.
The source for Estimated Resident Population aged 15–64 is
the ABS and is for June 2018 (latest available).[4]
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.[5]
Two other payments with a small number of recipients have been merged into
JobSeeker Payment: Sickness Allowance and Bereavement Allowance.[6]
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.[7]
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).[8]
For the period 27 April 2020 to 24 September 2020, all JobSeeker Payment
recipients also receive the Coronavirus Supplement worth $550 per fortnight.[9]
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.[10]
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.[11]
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).[12]
For the period 27 April 2020 to 24 September 2020, all Youth Allowance
recipients will receive the Coronavirus Supplement worth $550 per fortnight.[13]
Changes in
response to COVID-19
The Government has made a number of temporary changes to
JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance (Other) in response to COVID-19 which increase
the number of people eligible for these payments and which will have had an
impact on the number of recipients. Changes 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.[14]
Most of these changes apply from 25 March 2020 until at
least 24 September 2020.[15]
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.[16]
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.[17]
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 22 May
2020, there were 1,472,678 recipients of JobSeeker Payment, the payment that replaced
these payments (and the small number of those still to transition to the new
payment). This represents an increase of 738,974 or 100.7 per cent. On 27
December 2019, there were 85,316 Youth Allowance (Other) recipients and on 22
May there were 168,095 (an increase of 82,779 or 97.0 per cent). Combined, the
total number of recipients of these payments increased from around 820,000 to
around 1,640,000.
Table 1 sets out the number of recipients of the main
working-age income support payments at selected points from 27 December 2019 to
22 May 2020.
The source for this data is an Answer to a Question on
Notice from the Senate COVID-19 Committee—the total recipient numbers for May
are different from the other totals given in this Statistical Snapshot as the
point in time is one week earlier than the data provided in the DSS monthly
reports. This source is used as it provides information on all the main income
support payment categories.
Table 1: selected
income support payment recipients, December 2019–May 2020
| Payment |
27/12/2019 |
28/02/2020 |
27/03/2020 |
24/04/2020 |
22/05/2020 |
| Austudy |
27 634 |
29 748 |
33 000 |
35 205 |
38 807 |
| Carer Payment |
284 252 |
286 773 |
290 126 |
292 766 |
294 163 |
| Disability Support Pension |
751 773 |
752 047 |
752 191 |
753 336 |
754 263 |
| JobSeeker Payment |
|
n/a |
792 814 |
1 221 419 |
1 471 534 |
| Newstart Allowance |
728 405 |
724 628 |
|
|
|
| Parenting Payment Partnered |
68 087 |
67 971 |
67 552 |
70 494 |
86 249 |
| Parenting Payment Single |
228 606 |
228 794 |
230 702 |
233 618 |
240 662 |
| Youth Allowance (other) |
85 316 |
85 736 |
93 399 |
121 617 |
168 095 |
| Youth Allowance (student
and apprentice) |
134 456 |
157 145 |
168 997 |
184 301 |
207 562 |
| Combined Newstart
Allowance* |
733 704 |
730 136 |
|
|
|
| Combined JobSeeker
Payment* |
|
|
797 941 |
1 224 555 |
1 472 678 |
*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–May. December
2019 is Newstart Allowance and Sickness Allowance only as data on Bereavement
Allowance not available.
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: May 2020’,
data.gov.au website, last updated 19 June 2020; Senate Select Committee on
COVID-19, Answers to written questions on notice by the Department of Social
Services, Question reference number SQ20-000453.
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.[18]
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.[19]
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.[20]
This will depend on their specific circumstances such as whether they have any
other sources of income.
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 May
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 2 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 2: Newstart
Allowance and Sickness Allowance, JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance (Other)
recipients by state or territory, December 2019–May 2020
| State or territory |
December 2019 |
March 2020 |
April 2020 |
May 2020 |
Difference Dec 19 to May
2020 |
% change Dec 19 to May
2020 |
| NSW |
225
900 |
245
422 |
385
307 |
476
784 |
+250
884 |
+111% |
| Vic. |
179
049 |
193
586 |
312
895 |
389
229 |
+210
180 |
+117% |
| Qld. |
191
903 |
210
249 |
317
217 |
379
687 |
+187
784 |
+98% |
| SA |
73
738 |
78
421 |
108
145 |
126
375 |
+52
637 |
+71% |
| WA |
98
318 |
105
493 |
148
956 |
181
348 |
+83
030 |
+84% |
| Tas. |
24
561 |
25
803 |
34
322 |
39
857 |
+15
296 |
+62% |
| NT |
18
656 |
19
931 |
23
744 |
26
369 |
+7
713 |
+41% |
| ACT |
6
600 |
7
135 |
11
940 |
14
858 |
+8
258 |
+125% |
| Total |
818
893 |
886
213 |
1
343 036 |
1
635 286 |
+816
393 |
+100% |
Notes: December 2019 is the total number
of recipients of Newstart Allowance, Sickness Allowance and Youth Allowance
(Other). March, April and May 2020 is the total number of recipients of
JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance (Other).
Sources: DSS, ‘DSS Demographics December 2019’, data.gov.au website, last updated 21 April 2020;
DSS, ‘JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance recipients
monthly profile: March 2020’,
data.gov.au website, last updated 15 May 2020; DSS, ‘JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance recipients
monthly profile: May 2020’,
data.gov.au website, last updated 19 June 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, Leichhardt in far north Queensland and the
Greens-held inner-city electorate of Melbourne. Table 3 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 May
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 3:
electorates with the largest increase in the number of JobSeeker Payment
recipients from December 2019 to May 2020
| Electorate |
State |
Party |
Newstart and Sickness
Allowance–December 2019 |
JobSeeker Payment–May
2020 |
Difference Dec 19 to May
2020 |
% change–Dec 19 to May
2020 |
| Moncrieff |
Qld. |
LNP |
5 951 |
15 037 |
+9 086 |
+153% |
| Blaxland |
NSW |
ALP |
6 446 |
14 581 |
+8 135 |
+126% |
| Calwell |
Vic. |
ALP |
8 422 |
16 534 |
+8 112 |
+96% |
| Fadden |
Qld. |
LNP |
5 640 |
13 618 |
+7 978 |
+141% |
| Watson |
NSW |
ALP |
4 955 |
12 795 |
+7 840 |
+158% |
| Lalor |
Vic. |
ALP |
5 468 |
13 300 |
+7 832 |
+143% |
| Richmond |
NSW |
ALP |
6 410 |
14 155 |
+7 745 |
+121% |
| McPherson |
Qld. |
LNP |
3 977 |
11 598 |
+7 621 |
+192% |
| Leichhardt |
Qld. |
LNP |
9 755 |
17 372 |
+7 617 |
+78% |
| Melbourne |
Vic. |
GRN |
4 473 |
11 939 |
+7 466 |
+167% |
Sources: Parliamentary
Library estimates based on DSS, ‘DSS Demographics December 2019’, data.gov.au website, last updated 21 April 2020;
DSS, ‘JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance recipients
monthly profile: May 2020’,
data.gov.au website, last updated 19 June 2020.
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 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 4 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 May 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, Grey and Spence in South
Australia, and Durack in Western Australia. The New South Wales electorates of
Parkes and New England, and the Tasmanian electorate of Braddon also saw below-50%
increases in JobSeeker Payment recipients between December 2019 and May 2020.
Table 4:
electorates with the largest percentage increase in JobSeeker Payment
recipients from December 2019 to May 2020
| Electorate |
State |
Party |
Newstart and Sickness
Allowance–December 2019 |
JobSeeker Payment–May
2020 |
Difference Dec 19 to May
20 |
% change–Dec 19 to May
20 |
| Wentworth |
NSW |
LP |
1 090 |
5 688 |
+4 598 |
+422% |
| Warringah |
NSW |
IND |
1 031 |
4 814 |
+3 783 |
+367% |
| Bradfield |
NSW |
LP |
977 |
4 331 |
+3 354 |
+343% |
| North Sydney |
NSW |
LP |
1 080 |
4 785 |
+3 705 |
+343% |
| Mackellar |
NSW |
LP |
1 256 |
5 093 |
+3 837 |
+306% |
| Kooyong |
Vic. |
LP |
1 212 |
4 842 |
+3 630 |
+300% |
| Mitchell |
NSW |
LP |
1 328 |
5 160 |
+3 832 |
+289% |
| Reid |
NSW |
LP |
2 217 |
8 071 |
+5 854 |
+264% |
| Higgins |
Vic. |
LP |
1 766 |
6 360 |
+4 594 |
+260% |
| Berowra |
NSW |
LP |
1 137 |
4 088 |
+2 951 |
+260% |
Sources: Parliamentary
Library estimates based on DSS, ‘DSS Demographics December 2019’, data.gov.au website, last updated 21 April 2020;
DSS, ‘JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance recipients
monthly profile: May 2020’, data.gov.au
website, last updated 19 June 2020.
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 Reid in
western Sydney. Table 5 sets out the ten electorates which saw the largest
increase in Youth Allowance (Other) recipient numbers from December 2019 to May
2020.
Table 5:
electorates with the largest increase in the number of Youth Allowance (Other)
recipients from December 2019 to May 2020
| Electorate |
State |
Party |
December 2019 |
May 2020 |
Difference Dec 19 to May
20 |
% change – Dec 19 to May
20 |
| Fadden |
Qld. |
LNP |
660 |
1
824 |
+1
164 |
+176% |
| Leichhardt |
Qld. |
LNP |
1
194 |
2
280 |
+1
086 |
+91% |
| Forde |
Qld. |
LNP |
1
032 |
2
099 |
+1
067 |
+103% |
| Moncrieff |
Qld. |
LNP |
571 |
1
623 |
+1
052 |
+184% |
| Richmond |
NSW |
ALP |
614 |
1
655 |
+1
041 |
+169% |
| McPherson |
Qld. |
LNP |
389 |
1
403 |
+1
014 |
+261% |
| Longman |
Qld. |
LNP |
1
175 |
2
169 |
+994 |
+85% |
| Fisher |
Qld. |
LNP |
636 |
1
604 |
+968 |
+152% |
| Chifley |
NSW |
ALP |
749 |
1
713 |
+964 |
+129% |
| Blair |
Qld. |
ALP |
1
380 |
2
326 |
+946 |
+69% |
Sources:
Parliamentary Library estimates based on DSS, ‘DSS Demographics December 2019’, data.gov.au website, last updated 21 April 2020;
DSS, ‘JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance recipients
monthly profile: May 2020’,
data.gov.au website, last updated 19 June 2020.
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 Independent-held seat of Warringah; and Menzies in
Melbourne’s outer-east. 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 6 sets out the ten electorates which have had the
largest percentage increase in Youth Allowance (Other) recipients from December
2019 to May 2020.
Table 6: electorates
with the largest percentage increase in Youth Allowance (Other) recipients from
December 2019 to May 2020
| Electorate |
State |
Party |
December 2019 |
May 2020 |
Difference Dec 19 to May
20 |
% change – Dec 19 to May
20 |
| Mackellar |
NSW. |
LP |
64 |
405 |
+341 |
+533% |
| Wentworth |
NSW |
LP |
39 |
223 |
+184 |
+473% |
| North Sydney |
NSW |
LP |
35 |
171 |
+136 |
+389% |
| Warringah |
NSW |
IND |
62 |
290 |
+228 |
+367% |
| Cook |
NSW |
LP |
102 |
445 |
+343 |
+337% |
| Berowra |
NSW |
LP |
71 |
299 |
+228 |
+322% |
| Bradfield |
NSW |
LP |
47 |
198 |
+151 |
+320% |
| Hughes |
NSW |
LP |
124 |
479 |
+355 |
+286% |
| Menzies |
Vic. |
LP |
99 |
380 |
+281 |
+283% |
| Mitchell |
NSW |
LP |
98 |
375 |
+277 |
+283% |
Sources:
Parliamentary Library estimates based on DSS, ‘DSS Demographics December 2019’, data.gov.au website, last updated 21 April 2020;
DSS, ‘JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance recipients
monthly profile: May 2020’,
data.gov.au website, last updated 19 June 2020.
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 7 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 May 2020.
Table 7:
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 May 2020
| Electorate |
State |
Party |
Newstart Allowance and
Sickness Allowance + Youth Allowance (Other) Dec 2019 as % of pop. 15–64 |
JobSeeker Payment +
Youth Allowance (Other) May 2020 as % of pop. 15–64 |
Percentage point
difference December 2019 to May 2020 |
| Moncrieff |
Qld. |
LNP |
5.1% |
13.0% |
+7.9 |
| Richmond |
NSW |
ALP |
6.2% |
13.9% |
+7.7 |
| McPherson |
Qld. |
LNP |
3.8% |
11.4% |
+7.6 |
| Calwell |
Vic. |
ALP |
7.1% |
14.1% |
+6.9 |
| Leichhardt |
Qld. |
LNP |
8.2% |
14.8% |
+6.5 |
| Wide Bay |
Qld. |
LNP |
8.2% |
14.5% |
+6.3 |
| Fadden |
Qld. |
LNP |
4.3% |
10.5% |
+6.2 |
| Hinkler |
Qld. |
LNP |
10.4% |
16.6% |
+6.2 |
| Lalor |
Vic. |
ALP |
4.3% |
10.5% |
+6.1 |
| Fairfax |
Qld. |
LNP |
4.5% |
10.6% |
+6.1 |
Sources: Parliamentary
Library estimates based on DSS, ‘DSS Demographics December 2019’, data.gov.au website, last updated 21 April 2020;
DSS, ‘JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance recipients
monthly profile: May 2020’,
data.gov.au website, last updated 19 June 2020. 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 May 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, Moncrieff and Richmond.
Table 8 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 May 2020.
Table 8:
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 May
2020
| December 2019 |
May 2020 |
| Electorate |
State |
Party |
% |
Electorate |
State |
Party |
% |
| Lingiari |
NT |
ALP |
15.0% |
Lingiari |
NT |
ALP |
19.4% |
| Hinkler |
Qld. |
LNP |
10.4% |
Hinkler |
Qld. |
LNP |
16.6% |
| Spence |
SA |
ALP |
10.0% |
Leichhardt |
Qld. |
LNP |
14.8% |
| Grey |
SA |
LP |
9.3% |
Spence |
SA |
ALP |
14.7% |
| Durack |
WA |
LP |
8.6% |
Wide Bay |
Qld. |
LNP |
14.5% |
| Page |
NSW |
NATS |
8.6% |
Page |
NSW |
NATS |
14.1% |
| Leichhardt |
Qld. |
LNP |
8.2% |
Calwell |
Vic. |
ALP |
14.1% |
| Wide Bay |
Qld. |
LNP |
8.2% |
Richmond |
NSW |
ALP |
13.9% |
| Braddon |
Tas. |
LP |
8.1% |
Grey |
SA |
LP |
13.2% |
| Parkes |
NSW |
NATS |
7.8% |
Moncrieff |
Qld. |
LNP |
13.0% |
Sources:
Parliamentary Library estimates based on DSS, ‘DSS Demographics December 2019’, data.gov.au website, last updated 21 April 2020;
DSS, ‘JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance recipients
monthly profile: May 2020’,
data.gov.au website, last updated 19 June 2020. 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 9 sets out the number of recipients of these payments
in each electorate on the last Friday in December 2019, March 2020, April 2020
and May 2020. Geographical data for January and February 2020 has not been
published.
Table 9: estimates
of Newstart Allowance and Sickness Allowance, JobSeeker Payment and Youth
Allowance (Other) recipients by Commonwealth Electoral Division, December
2019–May 2020
| State or territory |
Division |
Newstart Allowance + Sickness Allowance |
JobSeeker Payment |
Youth Allowance (Other) |
| Dec-19 |
Mar-20 |
Apr-20 |
May-20 |
Dec-19 |
Mar-20 |
Apr-20 |
May-20 |
| NSW |
Banks |
2 983 |
3 142 |
6 088 |
7 889 |
173 |
175 |
303 |
541 |
| NSW |
Barton |
2 987 |
3 368 |
7 239 |
9 680 |
161 |
169 |
313 |
594 |
| NSW |
Bennelong |
2 135 |
2 296 |
5 105 |
7 144 |
128 |
107 |
195 |
365 |
| NSW |
Berowra |
1 137 |
1 263 |
2 777 |
4 088 |
71 |
75 |
127 |
299 |
| NSW |
Blaxland |
6 446 |
7 009 |
11 677 |
14 581 |
363 |
409 |
669 |
1 160 |
| NSW |
Bradfield |
977 |
1 143 |
2 936 |
4 331 |
47 |
46 |
95 |
198 |
| NSW |
Calare |
5 303 |
5 648 |
7 611 |
8 488 |
807 |
907 |
1 098 |
1 403 |
| NSW |
Chifley |
6 884 |
7 275 |
10 528 |
12 778 |
749 |
858 |
1 144 |
1 713 |
| NSW |
Cook |
1 586 |
1 871 |
4 228 |
5 568 |
102 |
105 |
216 |
445 |
| NSW |
Cowper |
7 765 |
8 417 |
11 613 |
12 970 |
1 109 |
1 262 |
1 565 |
2 025 |
| NSW |
Cunningham |
4 595 |
4 958 |
7 595 |
8 695 |
582 |
617 |
824 |
1 117 |
| NSW |
Dobell |
5 585 |
6 154 |
9 183 |
10 604 |
810 |
888 |
1 157 |
1 565 |
| NSW |
Eden-Monaro |
3 627 |
4 001 |
6 049 |
7 143 |
407 |
463 |
599 |
892 |
| NSW |
Farrer |
5 785 |
6 045 |
8 135 |
9 266 |
754 |
806 |
1 028 |
1 381 |
| NSW |
Fowler |
9 121 |
9 708 |
13 542 |
15 971 |
498 |
537 |
793 |
1 212 |
| NSW |
Gilmore |
5 469 |
5 858 |
8 504 |
9 812 |
683 |
782 |
981 |
1 341 |
| NSW |
Grayndler |
2 728 |
2 912 |
6 276 |
7 864 |
137 |
149 |
253 |
465 |
| NSW |
Greenway |
3 444 |
3 948 |
6 750 |
8 852 |
347 |
381 |
536 |
877 |
| NSW |
Hughes |
1 434 |
1 625 |
3 384 |
4 586 |
124 |
137 |
239 |
479 |
| NSW |
Hume |
3 029 |
3 238 |
5 233 |
6 544 |
302 |
344 |
515 |
862 |
| NSW |
Hunter |
5 516 |
5 839 |
8 338 |
9 537 |
834 |
917 |
1 142 |
1 497 |
| NSW |
Kingsford Smith |
2 461 |
2 640 |
5 640 |
7 465 |
155 |
143 |
255 |
501 |
| NSW |
Lindsay |
4 899 |
5 450 |
8 431 |
10 176 |
631 |
753 |
1 025 |
1 472 |
| NSW |
Lyne |
6 353 |
6 734 |
8 987 |
10 204 |
823 |
946 |
1 159 |
1 464 |
| NSW |
Macarthur |
5 206 |
5 688 |
9 166 |
11 523 |
652 |
701 |
1 008 |
1 503 |
| NSW |
Mackellar |
1 256 |
1 352 |
3 520 |
5 093 |
64 |
74 |
154 |
405 |
| NSW |
Macquarie |
3 011 |
3 258 |
5 415 |
6 632 |
322 |
354 |
539 |
801 |
| NSW |
McMahon |
7 646 |
8 334 |
11 642 |
13 833 |
541 |
570 |
801 |
1 250 |
| NSW |
Mitchell |
1 328 |
1 536 |
3 619 |
5 160 |
98 |
104 |
184 |
375 |
| NSW |
New England |
6 559 |
7 024 |
8 839 |
9 764 |
1 124 |
1 232 |
1 440 |
1 744 |
| NSW |
Newcastle |
5 272 |
5 647 |
8 729 |
9 643 |
740 |
815 |
1 030 |
1 343 |
| NSW |
North Sydney |
1 080 |
1 214 |
3 215 |
4 785 |
35 |
40 |
69 |
171 |
| NSW |
Page |
7 853 |
8 404 |
11 223 |
12 760 |
1 106 |
1 238 |
1 501 |
1 945 |
| NSW |
Parkes |
7 480 |
7 826 |
9 571 |
10 361 |
1 258 |
1 420 |
1 603 |
1 925 |
| NSW |
Parramatta |
4 652 |
5 107 |
8 719 |
11 229 |
282 |
289 |
460 |
730 |
| NSW |
Paterson |
5 749 |
6 370 |
9 178 |
10 438 |
941 |
1 086 |
1 366 |
1 801 |
| NSW |
Reid |
2 217 |
2 491 |
5 778 |
8 071 |
105 |
89 |
195 |
381 |
| NSW |
Richmond |
6 410 |
6 907 |
12 114 |
14 155 |
614 |
705 |
1 066 |
1 655 |
| NSW |
Riverina |
5 349 |
5 708 |
7 420 |
8 350 |
797 |
885 |
1 066 |
1 375 |
| NSW |
Robertson |
4 090 |
4 457 |
7 233 |
8 701 |
471 |
528 |
706 |
1 087 |
| NSW |
Shortland |
4 202 |
4 607 |
6 822 |
7 908 |
633 |
683 |
898 |
1 261 |
| NSW |
Sydney |
3 916 |
4 248 |
8 701 |
10 934 |
176 |
198 |
277 |
443 |
| NSW |
Warringah |
1 031 |
1 234 |
3 257 |
4 814 |
62 |
65 |
115 |
290 |
| NSW |
Watson |
4 955 |
5 413 |
10 088 |
12 795 |
280 |
291 |
523 |
899 |
| NSW |
Wentworth |
1 090 |
1 354 |
4 025 |
5 688 |
39 |
55 |
94 |
223 |
| NSW |
Werriwa |
6 464 |
7 183 |
10 701 |
13 229 |
472 |
550 |
807 |
1 319 |
| NSW |
Whitlam |
4 547 |
4 812 |
7 309 |
8 441 |
656 |
753 |
998 |
1 372 |
| Vic |
Aston |
3 090 |
3 317 |
5 939 |
7 651 |
247 |
279 |
410 |
692 |
| Vic |
Ballarat |
5 405 |
5 811 |
8 431 |
9 490 |
736 |
819 |
1 037 |
1 329 |
| Vic |
Bendigo |
5 130 |
5 462 |
7 714 |
9 025 |
653 |
686 |
905 |
1 254 |
| Vic |
Bruce |
6 936 |
7 271 |
11 120 |
13 923 |
562 |
578 |
792 |
1 208 |
| Vic |
Calwell |
8 422 |
9 095 |
13 682 |
16 534 |
801 |
842 |
1 121 |
1 671 |
| Vic |
Casey |
3 258 |
3 499 |
5 897 |
7 440 |
324 |
317 |
489 |
847 |
| Vic |
Chisholm |
2 348 |
2 608 |
5 159 |
6 892 |
199 |
189 |
269 |
405 |
| Vic |
Cooper |
4 368 |
4 801 |
9 033 |
10 669 |
295 |
337 |
449 |
664 |
| Vic |
Corangamite |
2 900 |
3 135 |
5 906 |
7 200 |
295 |
292 |
482 |
823 |
| Vic |
Corio |
5 624 |
5 921 |
8 696 |
9 870 |
674 |
736 |
961 |
1 281 |
| Vic |
Deakin |
3 045 |
3 345 |
5 773 |
7 155 |
257 |
241 |
369 |
591 |
| Vic |
Dunkley |
4 675 |
4 978 |
7 851 |
9 607 |
453 |
486 |
703 |
1 061 |
| Vic |
Flinders |
3 505 |
3 762 |
6 383 |
7 752 |
291 |
315 |
490 |
853 |
| Vic |
Fraser |
7 896 |
8 404 |
12 415 |
14 919 |
480 |
485 |
664 |
1 018 |
| Vic |
Gellibrand |
4 281 |
4 461 |
7 742 |
9 721 |
298 |
293 |
425 |
658 |
| Vic |
Gippsland |
6 787 |
7 233 |
9 249 |
10 646 |
808 |
875 |
1 044 |
1 345 |
| Vic |
Goldstein |
1 603 |
1 747 |
3 763 |
5 108 |
82 |
82 |
163 |
307 |
| Vic |
Gorton |
6 127 |
6 717 |
10 466 |
12 970 |
642 |
687 |
926 |
1 365 |
| Vic |
Higgins |
1 766 |
2 040 |
4 968 |
6 360 |
99 |
94 |
164 |
318 |
| Vic |
Holt |
4 800 |
5 317 |
9 031 |
11 708 |
578 |
651 |
857 |
1 380 |
| Vic |
Hotham |
2 915 |
3 262 |
6 161 |
7 961 |
183 |
201 |
300 |
505 |
| Vic |
Indi |
4 594 |
4 877 |
6 866 |
8 184 |
524 |
573 |
728 |
1 030 |
| Vic |
Isaacs |
2 940 |
3 339 |
5 926 |
7 558 |
196 |
229 |
342 |
575 |
| Vic |
Jagajaga |
2 654 |
2 863 |
5 189 |
6 448 |
171 |
196 |
279 |
458 |
| Vic |
Kooyong |
1 212 |
1 370 |
3 597 |
4 842 |
72 |
72 |
123 |
250 |
| Vic |
La Trobe |
3 578 |
3 979 |
6 941 |
8 927 |
389 |
459 |
651 |
1 076 |
| Vic |
Lalor |
5 468 |
6 017 |
10 255 |
13 300 |
581 |
614 |
851 |
1 270 |
| Vic |
Macnamara |
3 052 |
3 425 |
7 446 |
9 428 |
136 |
139 |
231 |
421 |
| Vic |
Mallee |
6 426 |
6 694 |
8 589 |
9 752 |
757 |
828 |
1 005 |
1 341 |
| Vic |
Maribyrnong |
3 664 |
4 360 |
7 897 |
9 500 |
237 |
269 |
415 |
653 |
| Vic |
McEwen |
3 039 |
3 405 |
5 994 |
7 708 |
327 |
364 |
518 |
849 |
| Vic |
Melbourne |
4 473 |
4 935 |
10 056 |
11 939 |
264 |
243 |
394 |
572 |
| Vic |
Menzies |
1 879 |
2 093 |
4 480 |
6 054 |
99 |
99 |
197 |
380 |
| Vic |
Monash |
5 299 |
5 575 |
7 829 |
9 219 |
473 |
518 |
702 |
1 018 |
| Vic |
Nicholls |
6 172 |
6 488 |
8 469 |
9 571 |
698 |
754 |
940 |
1 282 |
| Vic |
Scullin |
5 064 |
5 460 |
8 893 |
11 096 |
440 |
461 |
659 |
1 027 |
| Vic |
Wannon |
5 411 |
5 747 |
7 660 |
8 649 |
640 |
696 |
883 |
1 151 |
| Vic |
Wills |
3 974 |
4 467 |
9 019 |
10 755 |
287 |
298 |
468 |
757 |
| Qld |
Blair |
7 400 |
8 158 |
11 036 |
12 877 |
1 380 |
1 493 |
1 825 |
2 326 |
| Qld |
Bonner |
3 192 |
3 427 |
5 828 |
7 286 |
405 |
409 |
577 |
870 |
| Qld |
Bowman |
3 963 |
4 322 |
6 861 |
8 426 |
478 |
513 |
697 |
1 082 |
| Qld |
Brisbane |
3 854 |
4 202 |
8 420 |
9 970 |
348 |
351 |
576 |
853 |
| Qld |
Capricornia |
5 335 |
5 677 |
7 378 |
8 332 |
786 |
856 |
1 059 |
1 403 |
| Qld |
Dawson |
5 245 |
5 783 |
8 720 |
10 022 |
679 |
774 |
994 |
1 403 |
| Qld |
Dickson |
3 553 |
3 852 |
6 335 |
7 782 |
598 |
668 |
849 |
1 233 |
| Qld |
Fadden |
5 640 |
6 181 |
11 462 |
13 618 |
660 |
813 |
1 186 |
1 824 |
| Qld |
Fairfax |
4 835 |
5 333 |
9 507 |
11 262 |
634 |
741 |
1 105 |
1 578 |
| Qld |
Fisher |
4 607 |
4 999 |
8 816 |
10 626 |
636 |
742 |
1 093 |
1 604 |
| Qld |
Flynn |
7 034 |
7 631 |
9 676 |
10 846 |
976 |
1 128 |
1 334 |
1 666 |
| Qld |
Forde |
6 405 |
7 025 |
10 918 |
13 305 |
1 032 |
1 155 |
1 489 |
2 099 |
| Qld |
Griffith |
3 598 |
4 084 |
7 712 |
9 403 |
374 |
419 |
628 |
928 |
| Qld |
Groom |
5 191 |
5 611 |
7 640 |
8 670 |
1 016 |
1 082 |
1 315 |
1 704 |
| Qld |
Herbert |
7 211 |
7 746 |
10 671 |
11 997 |
1 173 |
1 272 |
1 549 |
2 047 |
| Qld |
Hinkler |
7 707 |
8 294 |
10 988 |
12 171 |
1 158 |
1 296 |
1 567 |
1 954 |
| Qld |
Kennedy |
8 733 |
9 428 |
12 120 |
13 611 |
1 148 |
1 325 |
1 550 |
1 969 |
| Qld |
Leichhardt |
9 755 |
10 558 |
15 971 |
17 372 |
1 194 |
1 413 |
1 739 |
2 280 |
| Qld |
Lilley |
3 971 |
4 384 |
7 490 |
8 951 |
477 |
518 |
708 |
1 002 |
| Qld |
Longman |
7 034 |
7 708 |
10 959 |
12 850 |
1 175 |
1 313 |
1 644 |
2 169 |
| Qld |
Maranoa |
5 755 |
6 141 |
7 680 |
8 851 |
881 |
1 002 |
1 193 |
1 506 |
| Qld |
McPherson |
3 977 |
4 487 |
9 409 |
11 598 |
389 |
492 |
859 |
1 403 |
| Qld |
Moncrieff |
5 951 |
6 484 |
12 752 |
15 037 |
571 |
664 |
1 015 |
1 623 |
| Qld |
Moreton |
4 327 |
4 827 |
8 029 |
9 814 |
507 |
557 |
705 |
1 012 |
| Qld |
Oxley |
6 250 |
7 000 |
10 351 |
12 514 |
924 |
1 066 |
1 332 |
1 792 |
| Qld |
Petrie |
5 656 |
6 139 |
9 484 |
11 408 |
888 |
997 |
1 328 |
1 790 |
| Qld |
Rankin |
7 787 |
8 693 |
12 568 |
14 859 |
1 301 |
1 373 |
1 726 |
2 237 |
| Qld |
Ryan |
2 104 |
2 332 |
4 469 |
5 799 |
295 |
274 |
412 |
641 |
| Qld |
Wide Bay |
6 951 |
7 285 |
10 718 |
12 324 |
1 006 |
1 054 |
1 342 |
1 795 |
| Qld |
Wright |
5 086 |
5 852 |
8 714 |
10 722 |
667 |
824 |
1 095 |
1 559 |
| SA |
Adelaide |
6 455 |
6 943 |
10 701 |
12 370 |
539 |
557 |
722 |
998 |
| SA |
Barker |
6 936 |
7 340 |
9 378 |
10 725 |
766 |
855 |
1 019 |
1 365 |
| SA |
Boothby |
4 390 |
4 719 |
7 466 |
8 671 |
423 |
421 |
583 |
809 |
| SA |
Grey |
9 656 |
10 129 |
12 328 |
13 532 |
1 152 |
1 266 |
1 452 |
1 746 |
| SA |
Hindmarsh |
6 109 |
6 494 |
9 687 |
11 244 |
574 |
607 |
786 |
1 084 |
| SA |
Kingston |
6 695 |
7 039 |
10 009 |
11 520 |
853 |
935 |
1 147 |
1 559 |
| SA |
Makin |
5 729 |
6 255 |
8 965 |
10 588 |
630 |
697 |
906 |
1 237 |
| SA |
Mayo |
4 609 |
4 990 |
7 478 |
8 899 |
474 |
518 |
686 |
1 063 |
| SA |
Spence |
12 144 |
12 800 |
15 809 |
17 756 |
1 602 |
1 651 |
1 915 |
2 349 |
| SA |
Sturt |
3 684 |
3 899 |
6 700 |
8 212 |
319 |
310 |
413 |
648 |
| WA |
Brand |
7 013 |
7 506 |
10 489 |
12 592 |
953 |
1 005 |
1 210 |
1 681 |
| WA |
Burt |
7 527 |
8 016 |
10 899 |
13 039 |
1 084 |
1 143 |
1 301 |
1 687 |
| WA |
Canning |
5 955 |
6 474 |
8 788 |
10 505 |
767 |
842 |
1 051 |
1 401 |
| WA |
Cowan |
5 524 |
5 796 |
8 505 |
10 283 |
644 |
652 |
839 |
1 202 |
| WA |
Curtin |
2 042 |
2 243 |
4 215 |
5 349 |
157 |
158 |
233 |
378 |
| WA |
Durack |
9 751 |
10 401 |
12 655 |
14 310 |
1 323 |
1 507 |
1 678 |
2 143 |
| WA |
Forrest |
5 599 |
5 920 |
8 646 |
10 332 |
719 |
774 |
972 |
1 384 |
| WA |
Fremantle |
5 085 |
5 442 |
8 292 |
10 082 |
548 |
607 |
752 |
1 056 |
| WA |
Hasluck |
5 380 |
5 806 |
7 986 |
9 521 |
679 |
708 |
872 |
1 165 |
| WA |
Moore |
2 662 |
2 856 |
4 971 |
6 434 |
264 |
296 |
434 |
725 |
| WA |
O'Connor |
6 474 |
6 826 |
8 543 |
9 880 |
684 |
727 |
885 |
1 222 |
| WA |
Pearce |
6 290 |
6 898 |
10 131 |
12 538 |
906 |
1 005 |
1 260 |
1 792 |
| WA |
Perth |
5 072 |
5 521 |
8 744 |
10 388 |
426 |
423 |
556 |
807 |
| WA |
Stirling |
5 471 |
5 728 |
8 653 |
10 219 |
518 |
506 |
656 |
877 |
| WA |
Swan |
5 635 |
6 155 |
9 221 |
10 971 |
663 |
691 |
870 |
1 199 |
| WA |
Tangney |
2 247 |
2 579 |
4 274 |
5 638 |
205 |
242 |
316 |
481 |
| Tas |
Bass |
5 271 |
5 519 |
7 079 |
7 957 |
815 |
821 |
979 |
1 204 |
| Tas |
Braddon |
4 767 |
4 967 |
6 208 |
7 090 |
744 |
780 |
880 |
1 069 |
| Tas |
Clark |
3 719 |
3 947 |
5 816 |
6 543 |
575 |
611 |
759 |
928 |
| Tas |
Franklin |
2 970 |
3 185 |
4 618 |
5 514 |
491 |
526 |
663 |
887 |
| Tas |
Lyons |
4 559 |
4 776 |
6 493 |
7 624 |
649 |
674 |
824 |
1 036 |
| NT |
Lingiari |
12 619 |
13 144 |
14 820 |
15 967 |
1 666 |
1 986 |
2 178 |
2 469 |
| NT |
Solomon |
3 872 |
4 262 |
6 071 |
7 050 |
526 |
571 |
722 |
944 |
| ACT |
Bean |
2 023 |
2 145 |
3 498 |
4 298 |
241 |
267 |
363 |
571 |
| ACT |
Canberra |
1 814 |
1 937 |
3 351 |
4 053 |
185 |
182 |
267 |
404 |
| ACT |
Fenner |
2 079 |
2 332 |
4 086 |
4 988 |
258 |
282 |
417 |
606 |
Sources: Parliamentary
Library estimates based on: DSS, ‘DSS Demographics December 2019’, data.gov.au website, last updated 21 April 2020;
DSS, ‘JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance recipients
monthly profile: May 2020’,
data.gov.au website, last updated 19 June 2020.
Original data by ABS
Statistical Area 2 (SA2) For March, April and May 2020 was converted to
Commonwealth Electoral Division (CED) by summing SA2s into electorates based on
ABS small area population data (correspondence data). The SA2 to CED
correspondence was prepared by Parliamentary Library based on ABS mesh block
data and ABS Estimated Resident Population (ERP) by SA1 as at June 2019. Where
an SA2 crosses CED boundaries, the proportion of the June 2019 ERP in those
electorates was used to apportion payment recipient numbers.
Due to the conversion of SA2
to CED by ERP, the March, April and May figures are estimates by CED and should
be considered indicative only. December 2019 figures are by CED at the source.
[1]. Department of
Social Services (DSS), ‘JobSeeker
Payment and Youth Allowance recipients monthly profile: May 2020’,
data.gov.au website, last updated 19 June 2020. All hyperlinks correct as at 14
July 2020.
[2]. DSS, ‘DSS
Demographics December 2019’, data.gov.au website, last updated 21 April
2020.
[3]. DSS, ‘JobSeeker
Payment and Youth Allowance recipients monthly profile: May 2020’, op. cit.
[4]. Australian
Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Regional population
by age and sex, Australia 2018, cat. no. 3235.0, ABS, Canberra,
29 August 2019.
[5]. Services
Australia (SA), ‘JobSeeker
Payment’, SA website, last updated 11 June 2020.
[6]. D Arthur, ‘JobSeeker
Payment: a quick guide’, Research paper series, 2019–20, Parliamentary
Library, Canberra, 13 March 2020.
[7]. SA, ‘JobSeeker
Payment’, op. cit.
[8]. SA, ‘JobSeeker
Payment: How much you can get’, SA website, last updated 19 May 2020; SA, ‘Energy
Supplement: How much you can get: Payment rates on a pension or allowance’,
SA website, last updated 29 May 2020.
[9]. SA, ‘Coronavirus
Supplement: How much you can get’, SA website, last updated 1 June 2020.
[10]. SA, ‘Youth
Allowance for jobseekers’, SA website, last updated 21 April 2020.
[11]. SA, ‘Youth
Allowance for students and apprentices: How much you can get: Income test’,
SA website, last updated 24 June 2020.
[12]. SA, ‘Youth
Allowance for jobseekers: How much you can get’, SA website, last updated
29 May 2020; SA, ‘Energy
Supplement: How much you can get: Payment rates on Youth Allowance’, SA
website, last updated 29 May 2020.
[13]. SA, ‘Coronavirus
Supplement: How much you can get’, op. cit.
[14]. DSS, ‘Coronavirus
(COVID-19) information and support’, DSS website, last updated 1 June 2020.
[15]. 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 2 June 2020.
[16]. Ibid.
[17]. SA, ‘Coronavirus
Supplement: Who can get it’, SA website, last updated 1 June 2020.
[18]. S Morrison
(Prime Minister) and J Frydenberg (Treasurer), $130
billion jobkeeper payment to keep Australians in a job, media release,
30 March 2020.
[19]. SA, ‘JobSeeker
Payment: Getting JobKeeper payment’, SA website, last updated 11 May 2020.
[20]. 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.
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