The week when JobKeeper was introduced

A year ago this week, restaurants were forced to close, thousands queued up at Centrelink and travellers were put in hotel quarantine. Here’s how it happened.

Playgrounds like this one in Sydney became off-limits as social distancing rules ramped up. Getty

Negar Salek and Lauren Vadnjal

Mar 29, 2021 – 12.00am

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When COVID-19 first entered our consciousness, we had no idea how infectious it would be – or how it would permeate every aspect of our lives.

A year on, we look back on one of the biggest news events in recent history. This week in 2020 was when Australians were told to stay at home, the JobKeeper wage subsidy was introduced, the market has its worst month ever and KPMG cut 200 jobs.