Local governments are not eligible for the JobKeeper Payment, while major industries like construction are.
Martin Loosemore, Professor, School of Built Environment
Although the JobKeeper scheme has been broadly welcomed, it is a mystery to business why Australia’s 537 local councils, which provide vital support for industries like construction, are not eligible. The failure to include local councils (and their wholly owned corporations) will undermine the economic and social impact these policies are meant to have.
This just doesn’t make sense to business or local government. Business and industry are depending on their partnerships with local government to get through the coronavirus crisis. But local councils, which employ almost 200,000 people, are already laying off thousands.
- Read the full story in The Conversation: Lack of help for local councils in coronavirus package undercuts industry support