Victoria pleads for federal aid for suffering businesses May 28, 2021 – 3.55pm Share The Victorian government has requested financial aid from the federal government to help businesses through the seven-day lockdown, with a support package worth around $200 million to be announced as early as Sunday. In the meantime, the Morrison government has approved the use of 160 Australian Defence Force troops to assist with the doorknocking of people in quarantine. Victoria’s Acting Premier James Merlino speaks to the media on Friday morning. Jason South On Friday, the Australian Industry Group said that in addition to an estimated $1 billion or more in lost revenue and stock, each week of hard lockdown would result in $1.5 billion in lost or deferred consumer spending, bringing the total cost to businesses to $2.5 billion a week.