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Retail spending to stay high out west despite JobSeeker cut: WA Treasury
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Retail spending in Western Australia is tipped to remain higher than prior to the COVID-19 pandemic despite the cut to JobSeeker payments as of January 1, according to the state government.
A government spokeswoman said low-income households had built up a saving buffer but the WA Council of Social Service and other groups have warned the cut to payments will have an impact on people being able to pay rent and the broader WA economy.
Older Australians are likely to be the worst hit as unemployment benefits are scaled back by $100 a fortnight for more than 1.3 million people.
JobSeeker recipients have been receiving a $250 coronavirus supplement on top of their welfare payments every two weeks since September 25.
Though the Federal Government shaved the supplement down to $150 on Friday with the scheme flagged to end on March 31.
The Department of Social Services released new figures showing how many people from each age group relied on welfare payments in October and November.
Fewer people aged 55-years and older were shown to have come off welfare compared to their younger counterparts, indicating they were more dependent on the scheme.
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