Victorians in line for $1000 cash payments: Do you qualify?

After days of increasing pressure, the PM is finally considering cash payments to Victorians left high and dry as the lockdown drags on.

The Morrison Government is considering cash disaster payments to vulnerable Victorians left high and dry and without an income as a result of the lockdown.

Despite rejecting calls for the reintroduction of the JobKeeper style wage subsidy, senior government figures have confirmed various targeted options using existing payment systems are being war-gamed.

News.com.au understands the Morrison Government proposal will include an income loss eligibility test to require proof workers have been left without pay as a result of the lockdown.

One option is a change to the eligibility criteria for existing pandemic payments that offers up to $1500 for people forced to quarantine for two weeks to more casuals left out of work. However, that option would require legislation.

Currently, the disaster relief cash is only available if you’re forced to quarantine and as a result you can’t work, not simply for lockdowns.

The Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) is calling for the Morrison Government to consider offering $1000 disaster payments to Victorians who have lost all of their paid work.

The existing Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) scheme could be used to help Victoria.

Speaking on Sunrise this morning, Mr Frydenberg confirmed a payment was under consideration.

“It would be targeted it would be through existing systems. They are the principles that serve does very well from the start of the crisis,” he said

Asked if the states will have to match it, 50-50, Mr Frydenberg said there were mechansims for shared payments.

“There is a recognition at the state level that they will have to make a significant contribution, and we’ve had constructive discussions with them,” he said.

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Dr Cassandra Goldie, CEO of the Australian Council of Social Service, wants $1000 disaster payments to Victorians.

The scheme offers a one-off, non-means tested payment of $1000 per eligible adult and $400 per child who have been adversely affected by a major disaster either in Australia or overseas.

“Just as the Federal Government provides disaster recovery payments to people who have been the victims of bushfire or flood, it should provide pandemic recovery income support, including a pandemic disaster-recovery payment, for people who have lost paid work,” ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie said.

“There’s no question that lock downs, while necessary to protect health, have been disasters for people who’ve lost paid work. This plan would ensure payments are fast-tracked to people who need them.

“At this week’s National Cabinet meeting, the Federal Government and states should put together a jobs and income support plan to deal with sudden lockdowns.”

Dismissing ill-informed predictions that the PM would refuse to offer any support, ministers have told news.com.au that discussions are underway after the lockdown was extended for another week.

Indeed, Treasury secretary Steve Kennedy told parliament this week that the Treasurer had tasked his officials to look at options for Victoria.

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Treasury Secretary Steven Kennedy says options are being considered for Victorians.

While the Morrison Government didn’t offer support during short lockdowns in Queensland and other states, a two week state wide lockdown is a different equation.

But some government ministers believe any pandemic payments should come with strings attached to discourage the states from locking down and closing borders, including that the states help fund the payments.

The claim that the Morrison Government would refuse to act was fuelled by briefings by the government to the media that the PM didn’t want to encourage states to lockdown by offering cash incentives to some workers.

But behind the scenes, some ministers say a pandemic emergency payment was war-gamed last year – but only if it was linked to a new hotspot definition.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says support should be provided through existing systems.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg appeared to allude to the government’s thinking on the issue when asked about help for Victoria on Wednesday.

“What we need to think about, given the pandemic is still with us, is how we approach this on a national basis,” he said.

“Our approaches will continue to be national, sustainable and where support is offered, it’s through existing systems.”

Mr Frydenberg also raised questions over why regional Victoria was locked down when areas like Mildura has no cases.

ACTU Secretary Sally McManus says hospitality and retail workers are suffering.

ACTU secretary Sally McManus told news.com.au that people wouldn’t be able to pay for “food and rent” if the situation continues.

“Most casual workers in hospitality and retail have no savings,” she said.

“If they ever did, they spent it last year. This means they have nothing. No money for food or rent.

“This is a cruel and harsh punishment for people who deserve the 100 per cent support of the whole country. Reinstating JobKeeper is the least the Federal Government should be doing”.

The original JobKeeper scheme locked out millions of casuals from the wage subsidy scheme.

But it’s casuals who are once again the hardest hit by the latest lockdown and are regarded as most in need of assistance.

Accusing the states of “jealously guarding” the right to decide when and how they lockdown entire workforces, the Prime Minister underlined he had no control over the issue.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Question Time.

“As the Leader of the Opposition would be fully aware, the decisions to implement lockdowns in states and territories around the country are solely and totally the responsibility of state and territory governments,’’ Mr Morrison told parliament.

“Solely and totally. The Commonwealth government is not part of the decision-making process.

“I am having further discussions with the acting premier this evening, as the Treasurer is having with the Treasury in Victoria. But lockdowns in states are decisions of state and territory governments, that is a responsibility that the states and territories have jealously guarded over the course of the pandemic and that is their responsibility and they are making those decisions and taking those responsibilities.”