‘Needs to happen’: PM’s $800 bonus to Aussie workers

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced two special payments worth hundreds of dollars for certain Australian workers, formally unveiled at the National Press Club.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced two bonus payments totalling up to $800 for aged care staff, amid a push for workers in the sector to get a 25 per cent pay rise.

The $209 million announcement was unveiled at Mr Morrison’s National Press Club address on Tuesday and came after Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese committed to boosting aged care funding at the weekend.

It will involve two payments of $400, to be paid pro rata on hours worked.

The first $400 payment will be made this month, with the second $400 handout to be given out by early May to acknowledge the increasing challenges from Covid.

“Of course none of our health outcomes would be possible without the hard work, long hours and dedicated care offered by our frontline health and aged care workforce,” Mr Morrison said.

The PM during his National Press Club address. Picture: Getty Images

“That’s why I am announcing today the government is providing a further $209 million to support the aged care workforce to continue to care for older Australians through the pandemic.

“In coming months, two bonus payments of up to $400 each will be paid to aged care workers in government subsidised home care and to aged care workers providing direct care, food or cleaning services in government subsidised residential care.”

Taking questions after his National Press Club address, Mr Morrison said: “It needs to happen now”.
“The $400 payments ... we have already done this once before, and we know it works,” he said.
Mr Morrison said the payments were designed to support aged care worker so they could perform their roles during tough Covid circumstances.
“We believe that will help manage the significant demands on the workers.”

This latest bonus will be in addition to previous ones announced by the federal government, including three $800 payments to direct care workers in residential aged care or $600 for home care staff, announced in 2020.

“This is a responsible commitment that builds on the $393 million provided over three payments to 234,000 aged care workers earlier in the pandemic,” the Prime Minister said.

Mr Morrison’s announcement comes amid a looming case before the Fair Work Commission to lift more than 200,000 aged care workers’ pay by 25 per cent.

Launched by the Health Services Union, it would mean a pay rise of at least $5 an hour if the industrial tribunal decides to vary the award.

Mr Albanese on Sunday called on the government to make a submission to the commission to support the increase in wages, after making his own loose commitment to increase funding.

“Aged care funding needs to be increased,” he told ABC’s Insiders.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison at the National Press Club in Canberra. Picture: NCA / Gary Ramage

Staff in aged care have been under increasing pressure from Covid. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nicholas Eagar

“Will you go further?” host David Speers asked.

“Yes,” Mr Albanese said.

“We still don’t have a commitment to increase wages and conditions so that aged care facilities are able to attract the staff.

“So I’ll tell you one thing we would do right now: there’s a case before the Fair Work Commission for an increase in wages for aged care staff.

“The federal government should be making a submission to that, to the commission, supporting an increase in wages.”