The incumbent opposition leader says pandemic leave payments ended by her government must be reinstated as rising number of COVID-19 cases pressures prime minister not to end financial support .
Key points:
- The government allowed COVID termination payments to expire on June 30
- State leaders and health agencies have called for his reinstatement
- The Opposition says circumstances have changed since they cut payment
The former government set an end date of June 30 for payments of $ 750, which were available to people forced to isolate or care for someone with COVID-19.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has resisted growing calls from health groups, unions and state leaders to restore them.
The government is also ending free rapid antigen testing and advocacy support in caring for the elderly.
Albanese said concerns would be discussed at a national cabinet meeting convened on Monday.
“We have inherited these decisions, but we have also inherited a trillion dollars of debt,” Albanese said.
“This is something that was not our responsibility.”
Incumbent opposition leader Sussan Ley told Channel Seven that the payment that ended her government was a “lifesaver” for casual workers.
“Anthony Albanese said he would take responsibility and leave no one behind. These two tests have failed,” Ms Ley said.
“[The leave payment] There are people who don’t have the finances to turn to, and as we headed to the studio today, in front of the people cleaning the train stations, setting up the cafes, $ 750 is a lifesaver for them.
“What we don’t want is for them to feel compelled to come to work to protect their family, to put food on the table.”
Ms. Ley said the old government decided to end the payment more than a year ago, before the Omicron variant existed, and circumstances had changed.
Deputy Treasurer Stephen Jones said some state governments were not so burdened with debt and did not rule out that payments were co-financed by the states and the Commonwealth.
“Many of the state leaders who ask us to do more actually have fewer debts and healthier balance sheets and healthier budgets,” he said.
“Some of them are approaching a surplus, something the Commonwealth will not do at any point in the next two years.”
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