Labor candidates in marginal seats buck party line to advocate for jobseeker increase

Louise Miller-Frost says current rate represents intentional cruelty' while Andrew Charlton says lifting it is right thing to do'

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Two of Labor's star candidates in must-win marginal electorates have advocated strongly for an increase to the jobseeker payment, contradicting the party's decision to scrap its planned review of the benefit if it wins government.

The opposition dashed the hopes of welfare advocates at the beginning of the campaign after confirming it had no plans to review the unemployment payment, as it had planned to do if elected in 2019. It also explicitly said it would not raise the rate in its first budget.