3 June 2021 While the Government's temporary COVID disaster payment will provide much-needed support for many people who have lost paid work as a result.
The Morrison Government is considering cash disaster payments to vulnerable Victorians left high and dry and without an income as a result of the lockdown. Despite rejecting calls for the reintroduction of the JobKeeper style wage subsidy, senior government figures have confirmed various targeted options using existing payment systems are being war-gamed. One option is a change to the eligibility criteria for existing pandemic payments that offers up to $1500 for people forced to quarantine for two weeks to more casuals left out of work. However, that option would require legislation. Currently, the disaster relief cash is only available if you re forced to quarantine and as a result you can t work, not simply for lockdowns.
Northern Adelaide mother Rita Sacchetta, 56, has been struggling to get by since losing her job in March 2019. Last week, she narrowly avoided losing the roof over her head.