Could you live on $40 a day? A Liberal MP says she could
Today, Liberal backbencher Julia Banks said she could live on $40 a day.
This comes amid a thick debate over welfare payments.
Australians on Newstart Allowance get a maximum of $545 a fortnight or $40 a day.
One of Australia’s leading economists wants to increase doll payments by $50 a week.
Chris Richardson, Senior Partner at Deloitte Access Economics says the amount of money people on welfare receive is unnecessarily cruel.
He tells Ben Fordham he couldn’t live on $40 a day, and it shouldn’t be expected people looking for work can.
“When you’re applying for jobs and they’re across town and you have to spend money to get from A to B, it is a tough thing.”
Listen to the full interview below
Liberal MP Craig Kelly weighs in on the debate, telling Ben he “probably” couldn’t live on $40 a day.
But he says it’s not meant for that reason.
“The dole is not something that is there to live on, it’s a temporary payment to help you until you can get another job.
“If you set the dole too high, it becomes a discouragement for people to go out and work.”
Listen to the full interview with Craig below