Health Minister Greg Hunt has hit back at claims Victorians hit by a seven day COVID-19 lockdown have been denied further Federal Government financial aid.
Earlier today, Victoria s Acting Premier James Merlino blasted the Morrison Government over what he said was a lack of financial support for workers hit by the state lockdown.
But Mr Hunt said the Commonwealth response has been fair and proportionate and there are strong measures in place for full time and casual workers.
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Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has defended the Morrison Government s response to the Victoria lockdown.(Nine) Our understanding is that we have strong support, we have a strong system in Victoria. We believe that steps taken by Victoria today are appropriate. And we welcome them, Mr Hunt said.
Queenslanders are set to find out today if the looming State of Origin series opener will move to Townsville as Melbourne grapples with more COVID-19 cases.
Acting Prime Minister Michael McCormack has repeated Scott Morrison's line it is "not a race" to get people vaccinated, despite a fresh coronavirus outbreak in Melbourne.
The comments come a day after Health Minister Greg Hunt denied the federal government had given the public the impression there was no rush to get vaccinated.
Mr McCormack, who is the acting prime minister as Scott Morrison is away in New Zealand, told Sky News the rollout has to be phased in systematically.
“It’s not a race, it has to be systematic, it has to be rolled out in way that Australians obviously need to know that they have to get the jab,” Mr McCormack said.
“But we can’t have everybody going to get it at the same time, and that’s why there has been a phased in system.”