Wagga coronavirus: support for extended JobKeeper wage subsidies amid fear of new virus cases

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg will reportedly announce on Thursday that the $1500-per fortnight payments will continue past their original expiry date in September, possibly at a lower amount and targeted at specific industries.

Wagga resident Brendan McMartin said wage subsidies has caused issues for his business in early childhood education but he still wanted the scheme to continue.

"It should definitely keep going if it's allowing people to stay in a job," he said.

Both the JobKeeper wage subsidies and JobSeeker extra unemployment payments will end on September 27 unless the Treasurer announces changes this week.

Business NSW Murray-Riverina regional manager Andrew Cottrill said he supported some of the possible changes that had been floated in media reports.

"We expect the JobKeeper support package and we would be hoping to see a package that is based on supporting the industries that are still going through challenging times or can demonstrate they will need a longer recovery time," he said.

"We are hearing that they will focus on tourism, accommodation and perhaps construction industries, and the like, particularly given the uncertainty over the Victorian and NSW outbreak and the border closures.

"Some businesses have recovered but are still on the package, so it should be tailored to businesses who have lost significant revenue."

Don Tuckwell Audio proprietor Don Tuckwell Audio said subsidy should stay to support small businesses.

"Why should all the support just go to the big businesses, when they have probably made more money during COVID?" he said.

"Support should continue for the smaller businesses and it should be targeted."

Mr Tuckwell said he did not claim JobKeeper as he closed his business during the height of the pandemic in Wagga but he supported extending the subsidies.

"Any bit of extra money going around helps out in the lead up to Christmas," he said.

Junee resident Jonathan Douglas said wage subsidies should continue as well as the 'Jobseeker' extra unemployment payments.

"I have friends on Jobseeker and it can't go back to the old Newstart level as it's pitiful and you can't live on it," he said.

Riverina MP and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack did not confirm any of the reported potential changes to JobKeeper.

"Treasury has completed its review of the $70 billion JobKeeper program," Mr McCormack said.

"The Treasurer will outline the outcomes of this review and what the Federal Government will do to continue to support Australians through the COVID-19 pandemic at the 23 July fiscal and economic update."

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Mr McCormack said the government's confirmed change to economic stimulus, increasing its small business guaranteed loans cap from $250,000 to $1 million, would "help businesses in the Riverina and Central West move out of hibernation, develop and adapt to the new COVID-safe economy".

"Key changes to the scheme include extending the purpose of loans for a wider range of investment, increasing the maximum loan size to $1 million and extending the maximum loan term to five years," he said.

"This will ensure lenders can support Riverina and Central West small and medium businesses when they need it most as they move to rebuild, adapt and create jobs on the other side of the coronavirus crisis."

Mr Cottrill said the guaranteed loans of up to $1 million could help some small businesses in the Riverina but mist were trying to avoid taking on more debt.

Labor duty Senator for the Riverina, Deborah O'Neill, accused Mr McCormack and the government of "playing games" with "vital information" about JobKeeper.

"The government shouldn't be leaking out bits of information in dribs and drabs like it's some teaser for a new TV show. People in the Riverina are anxious right now, they need a government who respects them enough to be clear and upfront about what their intentions are around the JobKeeper package," she said.

"We will be scrutinising this delayed announcement very closely because the current JobKeeper package is riddled with issues and we know this government has form for advertising rather than delivering, saying they're doing more than they actually are.

"There are over 19,200 workers and 5056 businesses in the Riverina that rely upon the JobKeeper package at the moment - this is too important for Michael McCormack and his team to muck around with. Like so many of your readers I'm really worried they'll get it wrong."