Cost-of-living package in federal budget delivers $40-a-fortnight welfare boost and energy relief

Jim Chalmers concedes some Australians want the government to do more to help those struggling to pay rent and bills

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Government payments including jobseeker and youth allowance will rise by $40 a fortnight, while pensioners and concession card holders will get hundreds of dollars in energy bill relief and rent assistance, in a $14.6bn cost-of-living package at the heart of the federal budget.

Jim Chalmers conceded Australians were living through “difficult times” but the boost to jobseeker falls short of what the government’s own economic advisory committee recommended.

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