Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says he will listen to Victoria's renewed request for economic support - after acting Premier James Merlino demanded the federal government step up.
The Morrison Government is considering cash disaster payments to vulnerable Victorians left high and dry and without an income as a result of the lockdown. Despite rejecting calls for the reintroduction of the JobKeeper style wage subsidy, senior government figures have confirmed various targeted options using existing payment systems are being war-gamed. One option is a change to the eligibility criteria for existing pandemic payments that offers up to $1500 for people forced to quarantine for two weeks to more casuals left out of work. However, that option would require legislation. Currently, the disaster relief cash is only available if you re forced to quarantine and as a result you can t work, not simply for lockdowns.
Australian Finance Minister Confident of Keeping AAA Credit Rating
Finance Minister Simon Birmingham is confident Australia will retain its AAA credit rating after the government last week unveiled a big spending program with the release of the 2021-22 federal budget.
When asked on whether the government would be responsible for a possible downgrade of its credit rating after the release of the budget, Senator Birmingham responded, “We are not expecting that to happen.”
“The rating agencies themselves issued their own statements, in their own words, last week in which they were very positive about the government’s strategy in this budget and the approach we are taking,” he told Sky News Australia.