Australians will be handed $1,500 per fortnight if they have to isolate and don't have sick leave - here's who is eligible
- Workers - citizens and foreign nationals on short-term visas - will qualify for cash
- $1500 per fortnight will be available for workers who must self-isolate
- Victorian workers who have exhausted their sick leave will qualify
- A phone hotline will be available for workers to call from Wednesday for help
- Penalties will be in place for anyone who goes to work after being told to isolate
Federal government disaster payments of $1500 will soon be available for Victorians who need to self-isolate for two weeks but have no sick leave.
Both Australian citizens and foreign national workers on short-term visas will be paid $1500 per fortnight if they are told they must self-isolate for coronavirus and cannot work.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said people can apply for the $1500 payment multiple times, and it's primarily aimed at people on short-term visas.
Mr Morrison described Victoria's situation as heartbreaking after the state recorded 429 new cases on Monday, and 13 more deaths bringing the national toll to 221.
'We know that we have to help them push through, because Australia's future depends on these weeks and months ahead,' he told reporters in Canberra.
The prime minister encouraged people to contact their friends in Victoria.
'Cheer them up. Encourage them. Let them know you're there for them if you're in a state in a much better situation - which, thankfully, all other states and territories are.'
A woman walks past an empty shop in Melbournes central business district on Monday
A man walks past a masked tree in Melbourne on Monday. Melbourne residents are now subject to a strict curfew after 8pm and must wear facemasks if they leave their homes
The queue outside a Centrelink office in Melbourne in April - many workers already lost their jobs and are on JobSeeker or JobKeeper. They won't be eligible for the disaster payment which is only for workers who have exhausted their sick pay and must self-isolate
Australian Defence Force members patrol Melbourne's streets on Monday, helping with the pandemic response
Melbourne's CBD pictured on Monday, is eerily empty after a State of Disaster was declared
Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has announced further restrictions for Melbourne, with retail, some manufacturing and administration to close from midnight on Wednesday.
'While I never thought that I would be telling people not to go to work, that is what we have to do in order to stop the spread of this wildly infectious virus,' he told reporters.
Supermarkets, bottle shops, pharmacies, petrol stations, banks, news agencies, post offices and butchers will remain open.
Melbourne residents have started six weeks of a strict lockdown, including an 8pm-5am curfew and no travel more than 5km from home for shopping or exercise.
It comes as Tasmania closes its borders until at least the end of the month, backtracking on a decision to allow South Australian, West Australian and Northern Territory visitors from Friday.
NSW recorded 13 new COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Sunday - four of which were returned travellers from overseas or Victoria and one with no known source.
Another four cases were announced from the weekend - a family of four, including a baby, from Wagga Wagga in the Riverina region that recently returned home from Melbourne and went into self-isolation.
Criteria for travel between NSW and Victoria was tightened two weeks ago, with movement limited to work, education or medical purposes. NSW residents returning from Victoria are forced into two weeks of self-isolation.
South Australia has reported two new coronavirus cases - both in hotel quarantine - as officials move to reimpose some COVID-19 restrictions.
Premier Steven Marshall announced on Monday the return of restrictions with family gatherings reduced from 50 to just 10 people and trading in pubs and restaurants to be limited to seated patrons only.
Mr Marshall said the new arrangements would take effect from midnight on Tuesday night.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk expressed concern, which she will raise at the next national cabinet meeting, about a travel exemption that allowed an infected embassy worker to fly from NSW to Queensland.
The young consular staff member tested positive to COVID-19 after he returned from overseas and was allowed to fly from Sydney to the Sunshine Coast without quarantining.
The man is now in self-isolation with his wife as health officials race to contact trace people who sat near him.
There were no new cases recorded in Queensland overnight.
Pictured: Prime Minister Scott Morrison announces the disaster payments for Victorian workers who are told to self-isolate for 14 days at a press conference on Monday
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiZ2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmRhaWx5bWFpbC5jby51ay9uZXdzL2FydGljbGUtODU4NzE1MS9WaWN0b3JpYW5zLTE1MDAtZm9ydG5pZ2h0LWlzb2xhdGUtZG9udC1zaWNrLWxlYXZlLmh0bWzSAWtodHRwczovL3d3dy5kYWlseW1haWwuY28udWsvbmV3cy9hcnRpY2xlLTg1ODcxNTEvYW1wL1ZpY3RvcmlhbnMtMTUwMC1mb3J0bmlnaHQtaXNvbGF0ZS1kb250LXNpY2stbGVhdmUuaHRtbA?oc=5
2020-08-03 07:56:21Z
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