Anthony Albanese reveals future plan for $750 Covid payment

Days after it was announced the $750 Covid payment would be reinstated, Anthony Albanese has revealed his future plan for the handout.

The reinstating of support payments for people struck down with Covid is a temporary measure, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has reiterated, saying the handouts “couldn’t be continued indefinitely”.

On the weekend, the Prime Minister brought back the $750 payment for casuals without sick leave who were forced into seven days of isolation under health orders.

He confirmed the pandemic leave disaster payment scheme would be reinstated until September 30, with costs to be split 50-50 between the Commonwealth and the states and territories.

The Prime Minister had earlier taken the position that the scheme should lapse over winter as planned.

But in an interview published by The Australian today, Mr Albanese revealed the payments were certain to be used only as temporary measure.

He told the publication the national cabinet agreed “this couldn’t be continued indefinitely”.

Mr Albanese also fell short of revealing whether an end to forced isolation would be part of the country’s long-term Covid management plan.

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has revealed Covid payments are only to be a short-term measure. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Jeremy Piper

“We’ll wait and see what their health advice is,” Mr Albanese said. “The health advice at the moment … was that it wouldn’t be the right time to reduce restrictions and everyone [in national cabinet] accepted that advice.

“Clearly, Australians are now very determined to keep the economy going. To take health advice, but trying to minimise the impact on the way that they live their lives while taking some sensible precautions.”

He said he was hopeful that, going forward, scientific breakthroughs would reduce the impact of Covid on society into the future.

The decision to bring back the Covid payment was made at a snap national cabinet meeting on Saturday morning, which was brought forward from Monday to address the recent surge in cases.

“All of the states and territories, as well as the Commonwealth understand that emergency payments are just that – they can’t continue forever given the fiscal constraints that are on government at all levels, but that this is an appropriate measure going forward,” Mr Albanese said after the meeting.

The Covid-19 Disaster Payment was reinstated until the end of September.

Mr Albanese brought forward the national cabinet meeting as Covid case numbers surge again. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Jeremy Piper

Mr Albanese said the Federal Government would also reinstate crisis payments for people on income support payments or study allowances who are affected by isolation requirements.

The Government will also create a new temporary telehealth Medicare item so GPs can spend longer with their patients to assess the suitability for oral Covid-19 antiviral treatments.

Mr Albanese said the extension of payments was expected to cost about $780 million. The payments will be available from Wednesday morning.

The PM also confirmed the scheme providing free rapid antigen tests to concession card holders would not be extended, but he said the states had programs in place to provide them for free to vulnerable people.

Around 300,000 Aussies contracted Covid in the last week, though Health Minister Mark Butler warned true case numbers were thought to be double that figure.

And millions more could contract the virus across the country in the second half of winter, with the Covid wave expected to peak in August.