Labor candidate for Page, Patrick Deegan, says Northern Rivers employers and their workers have again been let down by the Morrison-Joyce Government after the federal budget failed to deliver to a JobSeeker support package for local businesses.

Calls by Byron Shire Council Mayor Simon Richardson for are specific JobKeeper extensions have been supported by Lismore City Council Mayor Vanessa Ekins, Ballina MP Tamara Smith (Green), Lismore MP Janelle Saffin (Labor) and Federal Richmond MP Justine Elliot (Labor).

As if I don’t have enough to deal with, my empathy coach just cancelled my appointments because someone in his family ‘just died unexpectedly’.

According to the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) millions will face a bleak New Year as Jobseeker and other allowances are cut back.

While the COVID-19 health regulations vacillate from state to state and the business sector rides the rollercoaster of openings and closures, the debate over JobKeeper and JobSeeker payments continues.

In last week’s truncated edition of parliament, Scott Morrison declared stridently that he did not have a crystal ball.

Local law firm Barefoot Law have produced a range of letter templates to assist those severely financially impacted by COVID-19.

Two hearty cheers for ScoMo and his $130 billion JobKeeper package. If it had been a couple of weeks earlier it would have been three, but let’s be grateful for what we have got.