The policy change that could add almost half a million people to Australia’s workforce

About 450,000 people could rejoin the workforce and help end severe worker shortages in industries including tourism and hospitality if the government relaxed the income test for pensioners.

Currently, seniors can only earn $480 per fortnight before their pension payments are reduced.

CEO of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Andrew McKellar, says boosting that threshold would be welcome news for senior Australians who want to work, and for businesses desperately seeking workers.

“If you increase that threshold … someone who wants to work could take up two or three days of work,” he told Ross and Russel.

“We know there are many people who want to do that.

“We’ve had lots of support from groups like National Seniors Australia, so there’s clearly a resonance out there, and from a business point of view it would make sense.”

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