top of page
Writer's pictureLeonardo Puglisi

'Labor cares': Government accused of spin over pension increase which happens due to auto indexation

Welfare payment increases were announced this morning.

The federal government has announced welfare payments are set to receive their largest indexation increase in up to 3 decades.

According to the ABC, the maximum rate of pension will increase to $1,026.50 a fortnight for singles and $773.80 for each member of a pensioner couple.

Increases to the JobSeeker payment, Parenting Payment, ABSTUDY and Rent Assistance are also expected.


Labor MP Clare O’Neil today said that the Albanese government was “getting to work” by making the increases, and Labor senator Murray Watt tweeted that "we’re providing the biggest cost of living increase in 30 years to pensioners, carers, JobSeekers, single parents, students & more.”

"Labor cares.”

But is that telling the full story? Let’s look at some facts:

The increases are what’s called indexation increases - which are considered automatic or routine.

This page shows previous increases in every single January, March, July & September since 2013, as well as an additional one in April 2013.

This happened under the Gillard & Rudd Labor governments, as well as the Abbott, Turnbull & Morrison Coalition governments.

It’s also understood that the larger increase is simply because of inflation being at higher levels this year.


Cut through the spin: tune into SpinCheck LIVE every Thursday at 8pm AEST on our YouTube Channel.


Want to help stop misinformation & inform others? Share the link to this story on social media & with your family & friends using the buttons below.


See something you want fact-checked? Send us a DM on social media OR email us: contact@6newsau.com


Sign up to our new free newsletter to catch up on all our original reporting you may have missed & to read the latest from the editor - click here.


Help support unbiased journalism & keep us independent: donate just $4 a month on Patreon & receive exclusive benefits.

Commentaires


bottom of page