$1500 a fortnight paid pandemic leave now available

The federal government has bowed to pressure and installed a 14-day paid pandemic leave payment of $1500 a fortnight for employees that have been ordered to self-isolate but have no sick pay entitlements available to them.

It also applies to employees on JobKeeper or JobSeeker which does not include provisions for sick leave.

The move followed intense pressure on the government as COVID-19 cases, particularly in Victoria, balloon as those supposed to be self isolating for 14 days opt to go to work due to financial concerns.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison made the announcement late yesterday, as Victoria’s Premier Daniel Andrews declared much of the state would enter a hard Stage 4 Lockdown to try and contain the spread of the virus.

“What we’re dealing with here is a disaster and we need to respond on the basis of the way we provide support in the midst of disasters,” Morrison said in a press conference late yesterday.

“This pandemic is a disaster and we need a disaster payment when it comes to people who have to isolate for a period of 14 days through no fault of their own, regardless of what job they’re in or employment they’re in.

“So what we’ll be putting in place is for those who have no more sick leave available to them, that they will be eligible for a $1,500 payment for the fortnight.”

The payment will be made in the same way Disaster Recovery Payments are made with applications available over the phone from tomorrow onwards.

“This means that those who need to self-isolate as a result of an instruction by a public health officer, there is no economic reason for you to go to work,” Morrison said.

“We are also encouraging the Victorian government to ensure that there are appropriate penalties in place for those who do break those public health notices and they’re told to self-isolate and do go to work. They’re putting their workmates at risk. They’re putting their employer’s business at risk. They’re putting the broader health at risk.”

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