The Albanese government remains committed to the $250bn stage-three tax cuts but cannot say whether it will lift the rate of the unemployment payment, despite its own expert committee finding it was now “a barrier to paid work”.

Speaking to ABC’s Insiders on Sunday the finance minister, Katy Gallagher, said the government was reviewing the findings of the economic inclusion committee and the women’s economic equality taskforce, but could not commit to accepting any of the recommendations.

The chief executive of the Australian Council of Social Service, Dr Cassandra Goldie, said it would be “unconscionable and grossly irresponsible” for the government to condemn more than a million people to poverty on jobseeker while sticking with the tax cuts.