Cut to welfare payments ‘disregards students and young people’

Students have criticised the government’s decision to raise the base rate of welfare payments by $50 a fortnight — an extra $3.75 per day — when the $150 Coronavirus supplement ends next month.

This means that there will be a net decrease of $100 to current welfare payments. 

In a statement released this afternoon, the National Union of Students (NUS) said that “it is clear that this so-called new chapter is one of renewed disregard for students and young people.”

“There are eight Australians on JobSeeker for every job vacancy. Effectively, the Government is ensuring that 243,770 people are institutionally kept in poverty.”

Source: Financial Review

“This announcement prioritises the amount…