Effective 11.59pm last night, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced financial support measures for residents impacted by the five day lockdown across Commonwealth declared Hotspots including Moorabool Shire, City of Greater Geelong, Borough of Queenscliff and Surf Coast Shire.
Through new arrangements agreed by the Prime Minister and Premier of Victoria, people whose employment is impacted by the five day lockdown may be eligible for income support through the Morrison Government’s COVID-19 Disaster Payment.
Payments of $600 will be made to individuals who lose 20 hours or more of work during the period of the lockdown (the next five days). Payments of $375 will be made to individuals who lose between 8 and up to 20 hours of work during the period of the lockdown (the next five days). No liquid assets test will be applied to the payment at any time.
In addition, the Victorian Government has agreed to provide significant additional economic support to businesses, from day one of this lockdown period, satisfying the Commonwealth’s cost sharing requirements for this arrangement.
Should the Victorian lockdown be extended, the additional features of the upgraded and revised economic support arrangements proposed by the Commonwealth will be activated by agreement.
The additional support being announced today comes on top of the $45.4 billion of Commonwealth support which has already been delivered to Victoria.
We thank the thousands of Victorians across our region for coming forward and getting tested.
There are now more than 120 potential exposure sites across Victoria including in Barwon Heads, Officeworks in Waurn Ponds and the Mobil service station on the Western Freeway (western bound). For the full list see https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/exposure-site
Information about the COVID-19 Disaster Payment can be found on the Services Australia website at www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/covid-19-disaster-payment.
16 July 2021