)
Update (11:30am AEST): The Victorian Department of Health has reported 10 new COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to midnight, of whom four were already announced yesterday. All 10 cases are linked to the current outbreaks, taking the total number of active cases to 36.
While the Federal Government's temporary COVID disaster payments originally had a one-week minimum requirement for a lockdown, Victorians who lose work because of the current five-day lockdown will also be eligible for support.
The previous liquid asset test was scrapped last week, while payments were also increased on Tuesday, equating to $600 for those who have lost 20 hours of work or more, and $375 if they have lost less than 20 hours but had been working more than eight hours weekly.
The Commonwealth Government will pick up the tab for the areas declared hot spots by the chief medical officer - Greater Melbourne, Moorabool Shire, City of Greater Geelong, Borough of Queenscliff and Surf Coast Shire.
Meanwhile, the Victorian Government will make payments to lockdown-affected workers in the remainder of the state.
The agreement was struck last night between Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, along with their respective treasurers.
"In addition, the Victorian Government has agreed to provide significant additional economic support to businesses, from day one of this lockdown period, satisfying the Commonwealth's cost sharing requirements for this arrangement," the Prime Minister said in a statement.
"Should the Victorian lockdown be extended, the additional features of the upgraded and revised economic support arrangements proposed by the Commonwealth will be activated by agreement.
"The additional support being announced today comes on top of the $45.4 billion of Commonwealth support that has already been delivered to Victoria."
Updated at 9:04am AEST on 16 July 2021.
Get our daily business news
Sign up to our free email news updates.
)
)
)
)
)
