The federal government is reportedly considering $1,000 disaster payments for Victorians thrown out of work by the latest COVID-19 lockdown
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Victorians put out of work by the state’s two-week coronavirus lockdown could become eligible for up to $1,000 in federal disaster funding, under an emergency proposal reportedly under consideration by the Morrison government.
The Victorian Government has urged Canberra to open up its chequebook to support workers impacted by the crisis, which has forced businesses to close and severed casual employees from their income.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg have publicly rebuffed Acting Premier James Merlino’s calls to reinstate a form of JobKeeper, the $90 billion wage subsidy which supported workers nationwide until March.
And the federal government previously voiced its reluctance to step in when the lockdown’s original week-long timeframe was set.
But News.com.au reports Canberra is now contemplating expanding the eligibility requirements of the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment scheme, to cover those who’ve lost work due to the lockdowns.
The scheme currently provides up to $1,000 for every adult, and $400 per child, adversely impacted by natural disasters. It was recently put to use for New South Wales residents hit by severe flooding.
Another option reportedly under consideration is a legislated expansion of the Federal Government’s $1,500 payment to those forced to quarantine under the order of state health authorities.
Speaking on the breakfast television circuit Thursday morning, Frydenberg did not confirm any decisions, only saying that he discussed options with Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas on Wednesday night.
“I’m not going to pre-empt any decisions with you today,” Frydenberg told “Sunrise”. “What I’ve consistently said at my press conferences and elsewhere, is that any support provided to Victoria, and indeed other states, would be done on a nationally consistent basis, it would be temporary, it would be targeted, it would be through existing systems.”
The Victorian Government has already pledged in excess of $450 million in emergency support, but Frydenberg said “there is a recognition at the state level that they will have to make a significant contribution,” to any federal funding announcement, “and we’ve had constructive discussions with them” on the issue.
The Treasurer’s Thursday morning statements were not wholly collegial, though. When pressed on the federal government’s oversight of hotel quarantine in relation to the latest outbreak, Frydenberg deflected to his state counterparts.
“Victorians are asking those hard questions of their State Government,” he told “The Today Show”. “It’s not for me to answer, it’s for them.”
After yesterday’s lockdown extension, Victorians will face restrictions at least until 11.59pm Thursday, June 10.
Melbourne residents are only allowed to leave the home for five approved reasons, while regional Victoria will face some eased restrictions, pending developments in the state’s ongoing outbreak.