Ten per cent of the Border's population is receiving federal government support to ease the impact of COVID-19 on jobs.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
More than 6000 people were receiving JobSeeker payments in Albury-Wodonga in July, an increase of 49 per cent since the COVID-19 outbreak in Australia began in March.
Australian government figures show the number of people receiving the support in Wodonga (2359), Albury (2681) and Lavington (1264) has increased by 2091.
The number of people on JobKeeper is recorded separately, but there were 2681 applications processed for the 2640, 2641 and 3690 postcodes in May.
An overall figure of 8985 people on JobSeeker and JobKeeper - 10 per cent of Albury-Wodonga's population at the last Census - does not include the impact of the second stage three restrictions on regional Victoria or the Victoria-NSW border closure.
In assessing the figures for her electorate, Indi MP Helen Haines said 7000 people across Indi were on JobSeeker, a "heartbreaking" figure.
"Thousands of people have found themselves without a job for the first time in their lives because of these impacts on business and tourism," she said.
"Since March, the number of people in Indi receiving JobSeeker has increased 68 per cent and the number receiving Youth Allowance is up 88 per cent.
JobSeeker numbers
- Beechworth: 211
- Wangaratta: 1454
- Benalla: 822
- Towong: 304
- Yackandandah: 137
- Rutherglen: 199
- Corowa: 687
- Tocumwal/Finley/Jerilderie: 496
"Naturally, Wodonga and Wangaratta, our largest population centres, have the highest number of JobSeeker recipients.
"But our smaller towns are feeling the cost.
"In Bright and Mount Beauty, 172 people were relying on JobSeeker in March, while in July that number had almost tripled to 524."
IN OTHER NEWS:
Dr Haines wants the federal government to invest in a list of shovel-ready projects she has put forward to support the economy.
