Australian Treasurer Defends Delayed Extention of COVID-19 Payment

Then-Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers speaks to media during a doorstop in the Press Gallery at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on May 13, 2021. (Sam Mooy/Getty Images)

Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers has brushed off criticism the government was too slow to act in reinstating the pandemic leave payments in the wake of rising COVID-19 cases.

The $750 pandemic isolation payment, which ended on June 30, was extended to the end of September following a national cabinet meeting on Saturday.

The government had previously ruled out bringing back the payments due to budget pressures.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had told reporters on July 12 when announcing the end to COVID-19 payments: “We’re making an announcement today which will add to the government’s bottom line federally, and there are a range of things we would like to do, but we intend to be fiscally responsible in how we deal with issues.”

With the change in position, the acting Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said the government had been dragged “kicking and screaming” to reinstate the payments.

Chalmers dismissed the comment, saying that it was “her government a little over eight weeks ago that designed this program to end at the end of June,” he told Sky News on Sunday.

“We will get on with our work, working with the states and territories, led by premiers and chief ministers of both persuasion.”

The treasurer said there would be an increase in COVID-19 cases across the country in coming weeks.

Chalmers said the change in the health advice in relation to the new wave of COVID-19 cases was the reason why the payments were brought back.

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“Clearly for us, we’re about to have another spike in cases,” he said.

“We’re very cognisant of the health advice and that’s why we’ve taken the step.”

Ley said the government had been too late to react to the fresh wave of cases.

“We welcome the reinstatement of the payments, but this is two weeks after they stopped,” she said. “Anthony Albanese needs to apologise to every casual worker who suffered stress as a result of this flip-flopping.”

The Commonwealth will split the $780 million bill with the states and territories but the prime minister could not say whether the payments would later be extended past Sept. 30.

A new telehealth program will start next week, allowing GPs to spend longer with patients to assess their suitability for COVID-19 antiviral treatments.

This follows the federal government ending dozens of telehealth items, including longer consults.

A national crisis payment for anyone with COVID-19 and in severe financial hardship will also be reinstated.

Chalmers hit out at the opposition criticism, saying they were just whinging and complaining.

“There’s appetite in the community to come together around these problems, and not to constantly carp and whinge about them.”

By Andrew Brown and Finbar O'Mallon. The Epoch Times contributed to this report.