Media release – Tasmanian Greens Senator Nick McKim, 15 October 2021
JobKeeper profiteers must be forced to pay it back
A Senate inquiry has revealed the gross extent of JobKeeper profiteering by big corporations and underlined the need for them to pay it back.
“This is one of the biggest rorts in the history of corporate Australia,” Greens Economic Justice spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.
“$20 billion of public money was paid to entities who, rather than going backwards during the pandemic, actually had an increase in turnover.”
“Some of the richest people on earth pocketed public funds they did not need, and both the Labor and Liberal parties are perfectly content for them to keep it.”
“The Greens’ Bill would force profitable companies with a turnover of more than $50 million to pay back JobKeeper. And we will keep fighting for it when Parliament resumes.”
“It is beyond belief that the Liberals, and now Labor, would just let these companies keep this money, rather than demand it back and invest it into essential public services.”
