The Federal Government will introduce a $1,500 “disaster payment” for paid pandemic leave, Prime Minister Scott Morrison says.

The Federal Government will introduce a $1,500 “disaster payment” for paid pandemic leave, Prime Minister Scott Morrison says.
The payment will be available to workers in Victoria who need to self-isolate but do not have sick leave or payments through JobKeeper or JobSeeker.
“That means that for 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,” he said.
Mr Morrison said he expected the payment would benefit short-term visa holders in particular.
The payment will become available to workers in other parts of Australia if a disaster is declared as it has been in Victoria.
Mr Morrison said workers in the state would be able to apply for the payment over the phone from Wednesday.
This afternoon the Victorian Government announced hundreds of thousands of workers would be stood down as businesses were forced to close or scale back operations.
More to come.