REDLANDS casual employees and temporary visa holders have joined calls for government wage subsidies to be extended to ineligible workers struggling due to COVID-19.
On Tuesday, Scott Morrison reported that an estimated five million people were on JobKeeper payments, which sees $1500 per fortnight paid to eligible employees through their employer.
But Australian Unemployment Workers' Union Bayside branch secretary Callen Sorensen Karklis was concerned some locals would be left unemployed without a means of support to pay their bills or rent.
Artists and retail and hospitality employees were among the local workers who have asked for changes to JobKeeper eligibility criteria.
These included extending payments to temporary visa holders.
"It is unjust for visa workers in this category not to receive more assistance as it's a humanitarian ethical thing to do," Mr Sorensen Karklis said.
Deakin University professor Ly Tran said it was an ethical duty and a good business strategy to include international students in welfare support programs.
"How Australia treats international students in the current crisis is vital to both the sustainability of its largest services export industry and its international reputation."
But Bowman MP Andrew Laming said he preferred for Australian citizens to remain the priority.
"Those on student visas all commit to having sufficient resourcing before departing for Australia. It is actually a condition of their visa," he said.
A petition circulating online was also calling for casual workers who had been with a company for less than 12 months to be eligible for payments.
But Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter said last month that the line for payments needed to be drawn somewhere.
Casuals not eligible for JobKeeper could apply for the $1100 fortnightly JobSeeker payment.
Mr Laming said wage subsidy eligibility rested with the Australian Tax Office commissioner.
"In time of crisis, constructive suggestions are welcomed from opposition and unions. States can raise these issues at National Cabinet," he said.
The Bayside AUWU petition also requested the government review the period of time allowed for employees to vote on changes to enterprise agreements, after it was changed in April from seven days to 24 hours.
Mr Porter said at the time that the changes would allow employers to respond quickly to changing circumstances.
But Mr Sorensen Karklis said it was unreasonable to expect employees to be able to commit to decisions in the short time frame.
"We understand these are unprecedented times but more needs to be done to further ensure a reasonable safety net is maintained or people will be left behind."
