The executive director of Business Sydney, Paul Nicolaou, has written to Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg calling on the government to let age pension recipients earn more.
According to The Daily Telegraph, Mr Nicolaou believes older workers can fill the hospitality vacancies left behind by a shortage of backpackers and international students in Australia due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But this is only possible if the Federal Government comes to the party.
In his letter, Mr Nicolaou wrote that “currently under Work Bonus, a pensioner can earn up to $300 of employment income a fortnight… without reducing their pension.”
READ MORE: Business Sydney executive director Paul Nicolaou on why shops remain closed despite the end of lockdown.
“Increasing the limit would allow pensioners the opportunity to earn more money in this current climate and would help businesses who are struggling to find staff have access to a pool of potential workers,” he continued.
The idea has been backed by a number of hospitality industry leaders including the founder of Doltone House, Paul Signorelli.
Treasurer Frydenberg did not respond to requests for comment.
READ MORE: Executive Director of Business Sydney, Paul Nicolaou, calls for a ‘minister for Sydney’.
Source: The Daily Telegraph.
