Harvey Norman’s repayment of $6 million in JobKeeper payments establishes a new ethical test for businesses.
Harvey Norman founder Gerry Harvey will not reveal why his company chose to repay $6 million in JobKeeper subsidies but warns letting lockdowns drag on risks tipping the economy into a recession.
Billions of dollars under the JobKeeper program flowed to businesses that did not need it. Sixty-five per cent of surveyed Australians say they should repay taxpayers.
Today on Please Explain economics editor Ross Gittins joins Jess Irvine to discuss the adequacy of support for people whose incomes have been affected by COVID-19.
Queensland business and tourism groups have welcomed extra state COVID-19 support but warn that it’s unlikely to meet needs,particularly in the hard-hit far north.
JobKeeper was flawed and costly,but no one could blame the government for its hiccups on the run. What is less understandable is that it wasn’t improved - and resurrected when we inevitably needed it again.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian is refusing to publicly lobby the federal government for the return of JobKeeper despite Sydney’s lockdown being extended by four weeks and new data revealing spending across the city is at the lowest levels since the pandemic began.
Freshly listed discount retailer’s CEO,Rob Orrock,says more stimulus will be needed to keep businesses afloat,especially if the Sydney lockdown runs beyond August.
The Platypus and Skechers owner has cut hours and stood down staff in Sydney,Melbourne and Adelaide after using up its $10 million in excess JobKeeper funds.
Sydney’s most elite golf club claimed $2.8 million in JobKeeper subsidy payments in 2020,shoring up an after-tax surplus of more than $3.5 million.
For the first three months of this year the nation braced for a jobs crisis. Here’s why it never happened.