Scott Morrison to hand out more cash to help struggling businesses and workers get through Sydney's coronavirus lockdown but rules out bringing back JobKeeper
- Federal government to hand out more cash to NSW businesses and households
- Prime Minister to hold a virtual meeting on Sunday to discuss support options
- Treasury has put forward a number of options for Scott Morrison to consider
- Mental health supports for locked-down residents will also be investigated
The federal government will give more financial assistance to struggling businesses and workers who have lost income in Sydney's lockdown.
Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly announced on Sunday that disaster payments will be made available to both businesses and households in NSW.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg will virtually meet with Premier Gladys Berejiklian and NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet on Sunday afternoon to discuss support options.
The federal government will consider support for businesses in conjunction with the state government, as well as the broadening of support for households.
Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly announced on Sunday that disaster payments will be made available to both businesses and households in New South Wales
The federal government will consider support for businesses in conjunction with the state government, as well as the broadening of support for households
Treasury put forward support options for Mr Morrison to consider, with the changes to apply nationally to future lockdowns.
The virtual meeting will also investigate what mental health supports will be required for locked-down residents under Sydney's current restrictions.
Professor Kelly said the Commonwealth was meeting daily in the Australian health principal committee, as well as seeking advice and suggestions from NSW Chief Medical Officer Kerry Chant.
'It is very practical support that is happening from the Commonwealth in relation to the situation in Sydney', he said.
'That includes because that is a Commonwealth designated hot spot, there is funding available for aged care, for example, in terms of single site worker payments, there is the disaster, the Covid disaster payment which is also available now for people who are eligible in Sydney.'
A Expenditure Review Committee meeting will take place on Monday, where federal business ministers will consider a submission from Mr Frydenberg on how NSW business can best be supported.
The virtual meeting will also investigate what mental health supports will be required for locked-down residents under Greater Sydney's current restrictions
The Treasury have put forward a number of support options for Scott Morrison to consider, with the changes to apply nationally to future lockdowns
Workers who lost income as a result of Sydney's lockdown can already apply for payments of up to $500 a week.
The federal government created a coronavirus disaster payment during Melbourne's fourth lockdown last month, and is also available for Sydneysiders.
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People can receive the payments if they can't work from home and can't travel to work as a result of the lockdown, or their workplace is closed.
The City of Sydney, Waverley, Woollahra, Bayside, Canada Bay, Inner West and Randwick were eligible to claim from Friday and the rest of Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, and Wollongong now can as well.
Those who lose less than 20 hours of work under lockdown are eligible to receive $325 per week, and those losing more than 20 hours can get $500.
It was announced on Monday that workers who lost income as a result of Sydney's lockdown can now apply for payments of up to $500 a week
Workers must be unable to attend work and prove they lost income up to and including day eight of a Covid lockdown as a result of the restrictions.
Employees also must not be able to already access appropriate paid leave or entitlements through their employer.
They must also not have more than $10,000 in liquid assets they could draw on to get them through weeks of zero wages.
Workers cannot already be getting a government income support payment, state small business payment, or Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment.
It comes as NSW records a staggering 77 new local cases of Covid-19 and one death, a 90-year-old unvaccinated woman who was infected 'within the home setting'.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said in her daily press conference on Sunday that 33 of the cases were out in the community while infectious.
Workers who lose less than 20 hours of work under lockdown are eligible to receive $325 per week, and those losing more than 20 hours can get $500.
On Sunday NSW recorded a staggering 77 new local cases of Covid-19 and one death, a 90-year-old unvaccinated woman who was infected 'within the home setting'
More than 50 of the 77 new cases were identified as close contacts of a Covid-19 positive case.
The premier warned the figure was likely to keep rising before it fell down again, with more than 100 cases expected on Monday.
She would not clarify if the lockdown would be extended and would wait to see how the Covid-19 outbreak developed before making any decision.
NSW Chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said the 'vast majority' of cases were identified in southwest Sydney - which has recently been targeted by police with extra officers deployed to monitor lockdown compliance.
There were more than 48,000 Covid-19 tests conducted within the last 24 hours.
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