Jim Chalmers promises cost-of-living relief in budget but won’t commit to raising jobseeker

Treasurer Jim Chalmers admits living on jobseeker is ‘tough’, but has made no promises there will be relief in the upcoming May budget. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP

The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, says there will be cost-of-living relief in the budget and the government will “prioritise the most vulnerable” but has still refused to commit to raising the jobseeker rate.

Labor backbenchers have broken ranks to publicly call on the government to adopt the first priority recommendation of the economic inclusion advisory committee and “substantially” raise the unemployment benefit.