COVID-19 support payments reinstated

COVID-19 support payments reinstated following national cabinet meeting

Two COVID-19 support payments will be reinstated to ensure Australians who catch the virus and cannot work are financially protected.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with state and territory leaders during national cabinet on Saturday and the group decided to restore the pandemic leave payments until September 30.

The payments support workers, especially casual employees who do not receive sick leave, to have a $750 payment while isolating with COVID-19 to subsidise loss of income.

States and territories will also share the cost 50-50 with the federal government.

“I want to make sure that people aren’t left behind, that vulnerable people are looked after and that no one is left with the unenviable choice of not being able to isolate properly without losing an income and without losing put in a situation that is difficult,” Albanese said.

“We will reverse the decision we inherited from the former government to reinstate this payment.”

Albanese also announced crisis payments during the national health emergency will be restored until September 30.

This is a one-off payment for Australians who also receive support payments, study living allowances, or in severe financial hardship.

Albanese said reinstating the support payments is expected to cost around $780 million to split with states and territories.

Payments will be available from Wednesday morning and eligible Australians can apply online through Services Australia.

He warned COVID-19 case numbers are expected to peak in August which is why support payments will go through until the end of September.

Furthermore, leaders agreed for the Commonwealth to introduce a new telehealth option to assess Australians who have COVID-19 for eligibility to receive anti-viral treatments.

“We want to make sure that antivirals can be administered where appropriate and in order to do that, this temporary telehealth facility is appropriate,” Albanese said.

Albanese added states and territories will work to introduce consistent health messaging around mask wearing indoors, testing, and working from home orders.

“There will be less spread if people take action,” Albanese said.

“If more people wear masks, if more people get vaccinated, if people take more action.

“We will encourage people to follow health advice and take precautions.”

Albanese was asked whether the isolation requirements would be changed from seven days for COVID-positive people, he responded that “now is not the time”.

“Now is not the time to change the advice but that is something that will continue to be monitored and will come from the health experts and people will listen to that,” he said.