COVID-19 support payments for Victorians who lose work during lockdown

Victorians will be eligible for COVID-19 support payments for the current lockdown under a cost-sharing agreement hashed out between the Commonwealth government and the state.

The agreement, announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on Thursday night, frees up payments of $600 for people who lose 20 hours or more of work during the lockdown and $375 for those who lose between eight and 20 hours.

Victorian Premier Dan Andrews on Thursday announced a five-day statewide lockdown beginning on Friday, following the detection of two more cases.

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Under the COVID-19 Disaster Payment arrangement, the government said the Commonwealth would foot the bill for payments to residents and workers in Commonwealth-declared hotspots — Greater Melbourne, Moorabool Shire, City of Greater Geelong, Borough of Queenscliff and Surf Coast Shire — with Victoria paying for the rest of the state.

The Prime Minister and the Treasurer said the Victorian government had also agreed to providing "significant additional economic support to businesses, from day one of this lockdown period".

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews had earlier suggested a "five-sevenths" arrangement for the first-week disaster payments could be a fair compromise for a five-day lockdown.

"At the end of the day, I would be staggered if the prime minister and the federal treasurer want to look Victorians in the eye and say, 'You were locked down for five days, you weren't locked down for seven and therefore you are not getting anything'," Mr Andrews said.

"I have got a good relationship with the prime minister.

"He knows where I am coming from, he knows where I stand and that is with every single Victorian, and that is making sure they get the support they are entitled to."

The federal government says payments will be made on application to Services Australia seven days after the commencement of the lockdown, without a liquid assets test.

More information is available at the Services Australia website.

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