Legislation to extend the JobKeeper wage subsidy and the enhanced JobSeeker dole payment will take centre stage in federal parliament this week in its final sitting before the October 6 budget.
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Both schemes need to pass the Senate this week as existing arrangements will expire next month.
While being extended, the JobKeeper payment will be lowered from a fortnightly benefit of $1500 to $1200 at the end of September and then down to $1000 from December to March.
Likewise, the JobSeeker unemployment benefit has temporarily been doubled through the coronavirus supplement to a maximum $1100 per fortnight through to September but then will be reduced $800 until the end of the year.
While backing the extension, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has questioned whether this is the right time to be tapering these schemes when the economy is still struggling through the pandemic.
"The idea that you withdraw support in the current circumstances is, in my view, premature, and will lead to a deeper and longer recession than is necessary," Mr Albanese told ABC's Insiders program.
But Treasurer Josh Frydenberg points out that extending JobKeeper alone comes at a $30 billion cost to the budget.
"We have extended that support, JobKeeper is transitioning over time, and so too has been the coronavirus supplement (to JobSeeker)," Mr Frydenberg told Sky News' Sunday Agenda.
The June quarter national accounts on Wednesday will be another focal point as they will confirm Australia has suffered its first recession in nearly 30 years because of lockdowns associated with the pandemic.
Economists' forecasts centre on a contraction of six per cent, the biggest decline since the Australian Bureau of Statistics started plotting the national accounts in the late 1950s.
Laws will also be introduced to the House of Representatives putting in place greater checks on foreign government deals with local councils, state governments and universities.
Political debate is likely to centre on the aged care sector, which is in crisis because of COVID-19, while the government is likely to be pressed on whether increases to the compulsory superannuation guarantee will go ahead next year as legislated.
Parliamentary process will again be under COVID-19 restrictions, which will allow some members to debate and ask questions via video link but not take part in votes.
People entering Parliament House will again be asked to wear masks in public areas, even though such coverings are not mandatory in the ACT.
Australian Associated Press