“If you have friends in Victoria call them. Cheer them up,” Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison said during his press conference on Monday, shortly after announcements were made by Victoria’s Premier Daniel Andrews.
The Prime Minister announced a “pandemic leave disaster payment” for Victorians without sick leave entitlements when they have to self-isolate for two weeks. Those eligible, including non-permanent residents of Australia on short-term visas, will receive $1,500 for the 14 days, and they can be accessed multiple times if they are directed to self isolate.
Until now visa holders had no access to Commonwealth payments.
READ MORE: 25 Greek Australians from Melbourne in COVID-19 death tally, 20 from St Basil’s
“This pandemic is a disaster. And we need a disaster payment,” he said.
“The idea that, in this country, we’d be living at a time where there would be a night curfew on an entire city of the size of Melbourne was unthinkable,” he said.
“But I’ll tell you what – we will deal with it.”
READ MORE: “Significant pain” as Victorian businesses scale down to stop the spread of COVID-19
Those who need the pandemic leave disaster payment can apply by calling Services Australia’s Disaster Recovery Payment hotline after Wednesday on 180 22 66.