Yahoo Finance‘Exit strategy’: PM issues stern COVID warning
The days of JobKeeper and a boosted JobSeeker are rapidly coming to an end and Prime Minister Scott Morrison has warned the days of big Government spending are over.
Speaking at the Press Club on Monday, Morrison will say it’s time for Australia to consider its “exit strategy” from the support systems of JobKeeper and JobSeeker.
“We are not running a blank cheque budget,’’ Morrison said in an extract of the speech released early.
“You can’t run the Australian economy on taxpayers’ money forever.”
He said that as more than 90 per cent of jobs lost have already returned, the comeback is gathering pace, requiring a “response where emergency measures are temporary and accompanied by a clear fiscal exit strategy”.
Morrison will also say that as record low rates continue to make debt easier to service than ever, Australia will need to return to pre-pandemic financial settings and “fiscal discipline”.
“While our medium-term strategy remains to stabilise and reduce debt, low interest rates are alleviating debt servicing pressures as lower rates not only apply to new issuances but our pre-existing debt as it rolls over.
“We know that our temporary JobKeeper payments and our many other supports have helped to boost families and businesses balance sheets by more than $200 billion. They have been the game changer for millions of Australians.”
The Treasury department is currently examining tourism industry data with potential for targeted assistance as the international border closures continue to hamstring many businesses.
Morrison will speak today as the Government begins to roll out the COVID-19 vaccine, pledging $1.9 billion to the vaccination effort.
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