Empathy, you’re doing it wrong
Employment Minister Bill Shorten ruled out any immediate increase to the $13,000 a year Newstart allowance yesterday, despite declaring he finds it “hard to make ends meet” on his much larger salary of about $330,000.
He spoke out as the federal government comes under pressure to increase the $35-a-day dole.
Lobby groups at a government inquiry into the Newstart rate said the size of welfare handouts should be set by a tribunal just like politicians’ wages.
Mr Shorten admitted the unemployment benefit was tough to live on – adding that so was his wage.
