Parliament has taken the first step towards enabling businesses to hire more unemployed young people as the coronavirus recession continues.
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The JobMaker hiring credit bill passed the lower house on Monday despite the government not listing it on the parliamentary program until Tuesday.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and senior ministers had been badgering Labor to support the laws since the measure was outlined in the budget.
Opposition business manager Tony Burke successfully moved in parliament on Monday afternoon for the rest of the day's program to be scrapped and the bill brought on for debate and passed through the lower house by the end of the day.
Mr Burke took aim at the coalition for trying to politically wedge Labor rather than dealing with the bill itself.
"Legislation doesn't just magically waft through this place - someone has to move it and someone has to bring it on," Mr Burke said.
The bill won't get debated in the Senate until at least November 9, as budget estimates hearings are scheduled for this fortnight.
Under the plan, employers that take on jobless people aged under 30 will receive $200 a week, while those who hire people aged 30 to 35 will receive regular payments of $100.
The federal government expects the $4 billion program to help create 450,000 jobs over the next 12 months.
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said Labor had no problem with young people being given support but was concerned 928,000 jobless people aged over 35 would miss out.
Australian Associated Press
