With the 2020-21 national budget deficit now standing at $134.2 billion Morrison & Frydenberg wield the financial razor – and it’s no surprise that COVID-19 support payments are first in line to be trimmed

 

The Final Budget Outcome 2020–21 was released on 30 September 2021 showing a general government sector 2020-21 budget underlying cash balance deficit of $134.2 billion and a net public debt of $592.2 billion which is 6.5% of Australia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the last financial year.

Given that Morrison & Co are positioning the Coalition for a second ‘presidential style’ federal election the immediate reaction was to fall back on a favourite Scott Morrison tactic as Treasurer and then Prime Minister – impose support payment cuts that would impact most heavily on low income individuals and households.

Australian Treasurer & Liberal MP for Kooyong Josh Frydenberg, media release, 29 September 2021:

COVID-19 Disaster Payment

Joint media release with

Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie

Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience

Minister for Regionalisation, Regional Communications and Regional Education

The temporary COVID-19 Disaster Payment has supported around 2 million Australians with over $9 billion in payments made since it was announced in June this year.

Under the payment, eligible recipients have received $750 per week if they lost over 20 hours of work, $450 per week if they lost between 8 and 20 hours and $200 per week for those on income support payments who lost over 8 hours of work.

As part of our economic recovery plan, the temporary payment will begin to transition once a state or territory reaches 70 per cent full vaccination of its population (16 years and older) in line with the movement into Phase B of the National Plan agreed to at National Cabinet.

Once a state or territory reaches 70 per cent full vaccination, the automatic renewal of the temporary payment will end and individuals will have to reapply each week that a Commonwealth Hotspot remains in place to confirm their eligibility.

In line with the movement into Phase C of the National Plan, where a Commonwealth Hotspot remains in place and a state or territory reaches 80 per cent full vaccination of its population (16 years and older), the temporary payment will step down over a period of two weeks before ending.

In the first week after a state or territory has reached 80 per cent vaccination there will be a flat payment of $450 for those who have lost more than 8 hours of work, while those on income support will receive $100.

In the second week, the payment will be bought into line with JobSeeker at $320 for the week for those who have lost more than 8 hours of work, while the payment will end for those on income support.

For those who haven’t already returned to the workforce following the end of the temporary payment as the economy opens up, the social security system will support eligible individuals back into work.

The Government will also leave in place the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment until 30 June 2022.

Since the start of the pandemic the Morrison Government has provided $291 billion in direct economic support to households and businesses. [my yellow highlighting]

Note

The Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment program provides financial support if you can't earn an income because you must self-isolate or quarantine, or are caring for someone with COVID-19.