Sheed calls for JobKeeper to be extended in Greater Shepparton

The Member for the Shepparton District, Suzanna Sheed has welcomed reports Prime Minister Scott Morrison is proposing to extend JobKeeper payments in some regional areas. Ms Sheed has called on Federal Member for Nicholls, Damian Drum to argue the case in Canberra to include the Greater Shepparton region in any such extension.

“In April, this electorate reportedly had the third highest unemployment rate in the country. It is shocking to contemplate how high that rate could go if JobKeeper suddenly cuts out in September as planned,” Ms Sheed said.

“The entire country is hurting but as the Prime Minister said some areas, particularly regional areas, are hurting more than others. Greater Shepparton has been badly affected. Our extremely successful events culture has been decimated doing enormous harm to our local hospitality and accommodation industries.

The looming September economic “cliff” is very concerning, according to Ms Sheed.

“You’ll find few critics of the Federal Government’ s JobKeeper and JobSeeker responses that have kept many individuals, families, businesses and entire regional economies on life-support during the worst of the COVID-19 lock down measures,” Ms Sheed said.