Scott Morrison dodges questions around whether he will consider a paycut

Scott Morrison dodges questions around whether he will consider a pay cut – and says he ‘is doing a good job’ despite claiming Australian workers ‘are in it together’

  • Prime Minister Scott Morrison shoots down calls to take a pay cut during crisis
  • The prime minster said he was ‘doing a good job’ and wouldn’t take a pay cut 
  • Comments come after Mr Morrison claimed Australians were ‘in it together’ 
  • Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

Scott Morrison will not reconsider taking a temporary pay cut during the coronavirus pandemic.

The prime minister is sticking with a wage freeze that applies to all Commonwealth public servants.

Mr Morrison was on Tuesday asked whether he might take a hip-pocket hit to show Australians ‘we’re all in this together’, as he often declares.

Scott Morrison (pictured at National Press Club) will not reconsider taking a temporary pay cut during the coronavirus pandemic while sticking with the wage freeze on Commonwealth public servants

‘I have no plans to make any changes to those arrangements,’ he told the National Press Club in Canberra.

‘I’ll just keep doing a good job, that’s my plan, and I will be accountable to Australians for that job.’ 

More than one million JobSeeker claims have been processed since the virus smashed the Australian economy, while 3.5 million workers have been forced onto JobKeeper wage subsidies.

The prime minister’s comments came the same day he unveiled the JobMaker initiative, an ‘economic plan for the future’. 

Aspiring tradies, nurses and hairdressers stand to benefit from the announcement. 

Under Mr Morrison’s new plan, funding will be more closely linked to skill gaps based on what businesses truly need.

Industry will be given greater power to shape training, with pilot schemes across human services, digital technologies and mining used as examples for other sectors.

Over one million JobSeeker claims have been processed during he pandemic, while 3.5 million workers were forced onto JobKeeper wage subsidies (people lined up at a Centrelink)

Over one million JobSeeker claims have been processed during he pandemic, while 3.5 million workers were forced onto JobKeeper wage subsidies (people lined up at a Centrelink)

He wants new courses to be shaped by industry leaders and to reduce the number of programs to make it easier for young people to choose a career path.

Mr Morrison also re-affirmed Australia’s commitment to free trade in the face of mounting tensions with China.

Mr Morrison’s JobMaker plan rejects calls for government to play a major role in recovery over a longer period of time.

‘At some point, you’ve got to get your economy out of ICU,’ Mr Morrison said.

‘You’ve got to get it off the medication before it becomes too accustomed to it.’

Mr Morrison expects it will take ‘three to five years’ for Australia’s economy to recover from the impact of COVID-19. 

‘We must enable our businesses to earn our way out of this crisis. That means focusing on the things that can make our businesses go faster,’ he said.

Mr Morrison's comments come on the same day he announced the JobMaker initiative which will give industry leaders more power to shape their own training and recruitment courses

Mr Morrison’s comments come on the same day he announced the JobMaker initiative which will give industry leaders more power to shape their own training and recruitment courses

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