Liberal Senator Dean Smith has joined a growing group of Coalition figures calling for Australia’s unemployment benefit to be raised for the first time in 25 years.
Labor pledged to review the level of NewStart Allowance - which has not risen in real terms in 25 years - if it won office, however the Morrison government has remained steadfast in its opposition to an increase as the payment is meant to be ‘transitional’.
Senator Smith is not the only Coalition figure to voice his support for the raise, with former deputy PM Barnaby Joyce and Liberal Senator Arthur Sinodinos also calling for an increase.