Sydney (Tribune International, NSW Labor Media Release, 16 July 2020): Today’s unemployment data reinforces the need for the Berejiklian Government to convince their Federal counterparts to adjust and retain the JobKeeper and JobSeeker programs.
NSW Shadow Treasurer Walt Secord and NSW Shadow Minister for Finance and Small Business Daniel Mookhey were responding to the release of the Australian Bureau of Statistics employment data.
Mr Secord and Mr Mookhey also called on the Berejiklian Government to drop its plans to cut the wages of 410,000 workers in NSW, saying the wages would provide a vital and immediate stimulus measure.
They also noted that unemployment amongst women also worsened in NSW.
“The Morrison and Berejiklian Governments must ensure that workers remain attached to their jobs; the last thing we want to see is that the rug of support is pulled out from beneath families and businesses in NSW,” Mr Secord said.
“More than 188,000 people in NSW have lost jobs since March and this number will climb if these programs expire.”
Data released by the ABS today showed the unemployment rate in New South Wales jumped to 6.9% in June, the highest in over 20 years, with another 28,520 people in New South Wales joining the unemployment queue.
Shadow Minister for Finance, Daniel Mookhey said: “We must work together to support the thousands of families and businesses facing financial uncertainty. These figures are devastating. ”
“Economists across the board and NSW Treasury officials have warned that cutting wages would deepen the recession so the Berejiklian Government should use the occasion to drop its plan to slash the wages of the police officers, nurses, paramedics, teachers and other government workers.
“NSW needs a jobs plan to steer us out of this recession. We are heading for an economic cliff with no clear way out. Labor fears more jobs will be lost and yet the Berejiklian Government is silent.”
“All we have seen from the Treasurer is his plan to cut wages, increase taxes and more privatisation. There is nothing on the agenda about getting New South Wales back to work.”
Mr Mookhey said Labor is ready and willing to work in partnership with the Berejiklian Government to support sensible moves to support businesses and jobs through the period of economic recovery.
Key NSW unemployment data:
- Unemployment rate in NSW is now 6.9%, highest in more than 20 years (November 1998 was 7.2%). Up from 6.4% in May, 6.3% in April, and 4.9% in March.
- This means more than 188,000 people in NSW have lost jobs since March when COVID started. Another 107,000 people in NSW have left the labour force since March.
- Female unemployment rate in NSW is at 6.8%, the highest since the GFC (March 2009 was 6.9%). Up from 6.6% in May, 6.3% in April, and 4.4% in March.
- This means 108,000 women in NSW have lost jobs since March when COVID started. Another 62,000 women people in NSW have left the labour force since March.
