THE Federal Government needs to ensure employees and employers in the Mildura electorate are protected through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic recovery.

Member for Mildura Ali Cupper says an extension of the current $1500 per fortnight rate for both the JobKeeper and JobSeeker payments until the end of 2020 will be essential as lockdowns and restrictions continue in the region.

The request is part of Ms Cupper’s four-point #fixedit campaign, a revised road-map pitch to Federal and State governments to allow the Mildura electorate to find its ‘COVID normal’ as Victoria exits its second wave of the virus.

“The Stage 3 restrictions we are currently enduring have had a devastating impact on industries in our region, particularly hospitality and tourism,” Ms Cupper said.

“But small and medium businesses across the board have all been impacted severely.

“The JobKeeper program has literally kept businesses afloat during the second wave.

“An extension of the JobKeeper at the current $1500 per fortnight rate could be the difference between some small businesses hanging on, or closing their doors forever.”

Ms Cupper said Australian Bureau of Statistics figures showed northwest Victoria had been one of the hardest hit regions in the state with the total number of jobs falling by more than 10 per cent between March and July.

The decline was 7.3 statewide and 5.7 per cent across Australia over the same time period.

“These figures are stark and it shows our region can not be forgotten by governments – Federal and State – for something that’s out of our control,” Ms Cupper said.

“Our community has done such a great job in staying COVID-19 free but these figures show that heavy State restrictions, combined with border closures on two fronts, have had a crushing impact.

“I implore the Federal Government to extend its JobSeeker payments at the $1500 per fortnight rate to ensure those who have been stood down or lost their jobs can survive until we can start opening up again.”