Ward Welcomes Assistance To Help Businesses To Re-Open

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward MP has today welcomed the NSW Government’s announcement that it will go it alone to fund an extension of the JobSaver program to help our local businesses across the Illawarra, Kiama and Shoalhaven to re-open their doors and get people back into jobs.

Mr Ward said that when NSW reaches the 70 per cent double vaccination rate JobSaver payments will be tapered from 40 per cent to 30 per cent of weekly payroll.

“When our State reaches the 80 per cent double vaccination rate, the joint Commonwealth and NSW Government JobSaver payments will cease and the Commonwealth will end its contributions,” he said.

At that time, the NSW Government will continue to fund its 50 per cent contribution to JobSaver payments. At this point JobSaver payments will be tapered from 30 per cent to 15 per cent of weekly payroll.

JobSaver payments will end on 30th November 2021, coinciding with the further relaxation of restrictions.

“Importantly, this announcement today provides local businesses across our region with some greater support as well as providing some long awaited certainty,” Mr Ward said.

By 30th November 2021, the State Government is expected to have provided over $8 billion in direct support to businesses and individuals, including through the JobSaver program and its contribution to Commonwealth Disaster Payments.

“We need to get people back to work and keep them in jobs as much as possible and I am very pleased that the NSW Government now seems extremely focused on this goal,” Mr Ward concluded.