Coronavirus: Scott Morrison announces $1500 pandemic leave disaster payment

Workers who have to isolate and have exhausted their sick leave will receive a $1500 payment, Scott Morrison has revealed.

Scott Morrison will introduce a pandemic leave disaster payment to ensure people affected by coronavirus can go into isolation knowing they will have money to live on.

Workers who have to isolate for fourteen days and have exhausted their sick leave will get a $1500 payment to cover the fortnight in quarantine.

“They will principally be made to those on short-term visas – those who are not permanent residents or citizens of Australia who otherwise wouldn’t have accessed Commonwealth payments,” the Prime Minister said in Canberra.

“The Victorian government will continue to provide that support.

“We will make sure that everyone else who finds themselves in this situation and they don’t have that leave available to them through their sick leave because it’s been exhausted will get a $1,500 payment for that fortnight.

“People can actually access the payment multiple times if, unfortunately, they’re in a position where they have to self-isolate as a direct requirement on multiple times.”

Pandemic leave payments will only be available in Victoria for now, but will be extended to other states if they enter a period of disaster.

“There are other payments available under the JobSeeker program already to persons who find themselves in this situation,” Mr Morrison said.

“There is already a payment the Victorian government makes in relation to the period between when you take your test and when you get your test results back.

“That’s already in place. So what we’re seeking to do is supplement support.”

Pandemic leave will continue until Victoria is no longer in a state of disaster.