Tasmania's Liberal Premier Will Hodgman has thrown his support behind an increase to the Newstart allowance, saying it would lessen the pressures faced by unemployed people.
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A federal parliamentary inquiry is examining the adequacy of the weekly social security benefit of about $278, with pressure on the federal government to increase it by $75 per week.
"It would be a good thing to see those on low incomes and those who do depend on social security benefits to have an increase to reduce that pressure in their lives," Mr Hodgman told ABC Radio on Friday.
Mr Hodgman said Tasmania has a higher proportion of people on Newstart than the rest of the country.
The state's unemployment rate is currently 6.4 per cent, well above the national average of around five per cent.
When asked directly if he would like to see the federal government increase Newstart, Mr Hodgman said: "Yes. If they're able to manage it within their budget constraints, then of course."
Mr Hodgman is not the first state Liberal to back a Newstart rise, after NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro last month urged his federal coalition colleagues to consider raising the payment for those in rural and regional areas.
The Morrison government has rejected calls to raise Newstart, with a multi-agency submission to the inquiry saying the government's focus was on strengthening the national budget.
The Senate inquiry into raising the welfare payments is on Friday holding a public hearing in Launceston.
Australian Associated Press
