Scott Morrison will not extend the support programs beyond September, saying the economy is on the road back and now is not the time to go “further down”.

Mr Morrison’s comments were aimed at South Australia, Tasmania, Queensland and Western Australia. The states are expected to give updates on their plans for borders when national cabinet meets on Friday.
The Prime Minister also expressed confidence his government will not suffer politically for Australia falling into recession, saying voters clearly understood why the economy collapsed.
“It is a recession … there’s no doubt about that,” he told Parliament. “And I don’t think there is an Australian in this country … who doesn’t understand the reason why.”
With Parliament back and the two major parties now sparring openly over the coronavirus crisis and the response measures, Labor demanded the JobKeeper wage subsidy of $1500 per fortnight be extended to workers who had “missed out” including those in the arts and entertainment industries, universities and local councils, and those employed by foreign state-owned companies.
Mr Morrison said there would be no extension of eligibility criteria and indicated that JobKeeper and JobSeeker, the latter of which was a doubling of the dole payment, would run until the end of September as legislated and then no more.
“We will continue to provide those supports,” he told Parliament. “But I’ll say this also: we’re now on the road back. It’s not about going further down.”
The government is moving towards tailored support packages for industry sectors, such as international tourism, which will need support beyond September. On the weekend, it cut short JobKeeper’s availability for the childcare sector and replaced it with a $708 million transition package.
The Treasury is reviewing JobKeeper and JobSeeker and the government is not ruling out changes which would be unveiled at or before the July 23 mini-budget.
These could include ceasing or reducing JobKeeper for businesses whose turnovers have recovered and lowering the payment if the recipient earned less in their job before receiving the flat subsidy.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese accused Mr Morrison of delaying the changes until after the July 4 , Eden-Monaro by-election.
“This is a government that hides from transparency, that should release the review when they get it, the only reason why they’re delaying it is after the Eden-Monaro by-election,” he said.
Labor MPs speaking privately said morale in the party was very low amid fears the government could prove hard to beat at the next election.
One confided that Mr Morrison has expertly excised Labor from the national response to the crisis through the formation of national cabinet, which allowed him to deal directly with Labor premiers.