Yesterday, the Government announced it would be extending JobKeeper past September and through to March 2021, but at a stepped-down rate.

JobSeeker is also getting an extension through to the end of the year with a lesser 'Coronavirus Supplement', too.

The key details are below:

Phase One Rate Phase Two Rate (Date Applicable) Phase Three Rate (Date Applicable)
JobKeeper (Over 20 Hours a Week)  $1,500/fortnight $1,200/fortnight (28 Sep - 3 Jan) $1,000/fortnight (4 Jan - 28 Mar)
JobKeeper (Less Than 20 Hours a Week) $1,500/fortnight $750/fortnight (28 Sep - 3 Jan) $650/fortnight (4 Jan - 28 Mar)
JobSeeker Coronavirus Supplement $550/fortnight $250/fortnight (25 Sep - 31 Dec) Under Review
JobSeeker Totals $1,115 $1,115 ($815 + $300 of own income) - (25 Sep to 31 Dec) Under Review

However, opinion has been mixed on the issue, with social groups in particular calling for more support, especially for JobSeeker recipients, with experts' opinions below.

Need somewhere to store cash and earn interest? The table below features introductory savings accounts with some of the highest interest rates on the market.

Provider

4001$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Bonus rate for the first 4 months from account opening
  • No account keeping fees
  • No minimum balance
Disclosure

High Interest Savings Account (<$250k)

  • Bonus rate for the first 4 months from account opening
  • No account keeping fees
  • No minimum balance
Disclosure
000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Set up your Pay Cycle and connect your accounts from over 140 financial institutions.
  • Retrace your spending steps into categories with Spending Footprint.
  • No monthly or international fees on any of your transactions.
Disclosure

Save Account

  • Set up your Pay Cycle and connect your accounts from over 140 financial institutions.
  • Retrace your spending steps into categories with Spending Footprint.
  • No monthly or international fees on any of your transactions.
Disclosure
400$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Special offer: Savings Accelerator (Kick Starter offer).
  • For a limited time, new ING customers can get a bonus 0.70% p.a. on their savings rate on balances of $150,000 up to $500,000 for the first 4 months. T&Cs apply.
  • If your balance is over $500,000 (but less than $5 million) you will earn the ongoing variable rate of 4.7%
Disclosure

Savings Accelerator

  • Special offer: Savings Accelerator (Kick Starter offer).
  • For a limited time, new ING customers can get a bonus 0.70% p.a. on their savings rate on balances of $150,000 up to $500,000 for the first 4 months. T&Cs apply.
  • If your balance is over $500,000 (but less than $5 million) you will earn the ongoing variable rate of 4.7%
Disclosure
4000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • A high-interest online savings account with no monthly fees, easy withdrawals and award-winning digital banking
  • No withdrawal notice periods or interest rate penalties
  • Save up to 10% on eGift cards at over 50 retailers with Macquarie Marketplace
Disclosure

Savings Account

  • A high-interest online savings account with no monthly fees, easy withdrawals and award-winning digital banking
  • No withdrawal notice periods or interest rate penalties
  • Save up to 10% on eGift cards at over 50 retailers with Macquarie Marketplace
Disclosure
010000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Deposit at least $1,000+ each month from an external source
  • Make 5 or more eligible transactions. Grow your savings balance each month
Disclosure

Savings Maximiser

  • Deposit at least $1,000+ each month from an external source
  • Make 5 or more eligible transactions. Grow your savings balance each month
Disclosure
02000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
Disclosure

Online Savings - Premium Saver

    Disclosure
    020000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

    HomeME Savings Account (<$100k)

      02001$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

      Growth Saver

        01000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

        Virgin Money Boost Saver

          01001$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

          Bonus Saver Account

            01000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

            Bonus Saver

              0100$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

              mySaver

                000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                Simple Saver

                  4001$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                  Netsave Account

                    3000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                    Online Savings Account

                      3000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                      HSBC Everyday Savings Account

                        0501$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                        Incentive Saver Account

                          4000.01$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                          Bankwest Easy Saver

                            0502$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                            Bonus Saver

                              0500$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                              Incentive Saver Account

                                Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

                                All products with a link to a product provider’s website have a commercial marketing relationship between us and these providers. These products may appear prominently and first within the search tables regardless of their attributes and may include products marked as promoted, featured or sponsored. The link to a product provider’s website will allow you to get more information or apply for the product. By de-selecting “Show online partners only” additional non-commercialised products may be displayed and re-sorted at the top of the table. For more information on how we’ve selected these “Sponsored”, “Featured” and “Promoted” products, the products we compare, how we make money, and other important information about our service, please click here. Rates correct as of December 4, 2024. View disclaimer.

                                Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

                                Social groups saying more needs to be done

                                Mission Australia chief James Toomey said it's disappointing the Government has not committed to a permanent increase of JobSeeker.

                                "A permanent increase to income support payments would go a long way in injecting more money into the economy and relieve the pressure on organisations like Mission Australia who provide emergency relief and homelessness services," Mr Toomey said

                                "We can’t turn back to $40 a day at the end of the year. This will return people to poverty and leave them unable to meet their basic needs, including housing at Christmas and into 2021.

                                "Even before COVID-19, 253 requests for homelessness assistance were unable to be met on any given day across our country."

                                The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) was also critical of the reduction of the JobSeeker payment.

                                ACOSS chief Cassandra Goldie said the reduced payment gives Australians on the payment neither financial security nor certainty.

                                “The full supplement should be maintained until it is replaced with a permanent, adequate increase. Instead, the Coronavirus Supplement has been extended only to 31 December, with people facing the prospect of returning to $40 a day on New Year’s Day," Ms Goldie said.

                                “This decision will also have flow-on effects across the entire economy. Millions of people will have less to spend on the essentials in local businesses, which in turn could lead to further economic pain and unemployment."

                                A previous survey of 955 people by ACOSS in June found the increased rate of JobSeeker allowed 83% of respondents to eat healthier and more regularly, with three-quarters of respondents reporting skipping meals on the old rate.

                                Lower rates 'reliant' on opening up of the economy

                                Speaking more on the financial impact, Westpac's chief economist Bill Evans said the announcements were in-line with the bank's expectations.

                                "We have estimated that total financial injections into the economy from government policies have reached $65 billion in the June quarter 2020 and an expected $95 billion in the September quarter," he said.

                                "However, without doubt, the economy will have to adjust to a very large reduction in government support in the December quarter placing extraordinary reliance on a sustained opening up of the economy during that time.

                                "The government’s estimate of $16 billion [for JobKeeper] only goes to March and we expect a further extension of JobKeeper will be necessary after March, potentially lifting the total cost in 2020/2021 to around $20 billion compared to our original estimate of $24 billion."

                                CommBank's chief economist Craig James said the extension is "warranted" given Melbourne has been re-placed into lockdown.

                                "There is always a balance required between helping employers and employees genuinely in need and extending payments for too long, thus lifting the economic cost to the nation," Mr James said. 

                                "The right balance seems to have been found, but that doesn’t mean that further changes will need to be made."

                                Extension a 'welcome' announcement for small businesses

                                The Property Council of Australia is generally more supportive of the extension, with CEO Ken Morrison calling it a 'welcome' announcement.

                                "The extension of the JobKeeper program for a further six months will continue to provide welcome support for those businesses which have been hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.

                                Thinktank Grattan Institute and its new chief Danielle Wood were also generally supportive of the extension.

                                "It’s a positive that the Government recognises the need for these supports to continue in some form while also acknowledging there is scope for better targeting," she said.

                                The extensions come after two groups found retail spending increased, largely off the back of early super withdrawals and increased stimulus, in early July.