Last modified on Thu 22 Jul 2021 23.11 EDT
Nearly half a million workers in NSW have qualified for Covid-19 disaster payments as the state’s strict lockdown slashes jobs in key sectors, such as hospitality and much of retail.
But 400,000 unemployed or part-time workers across greater Sydney remain ineligible for the payment because they were already receiving some form of welfare. Almost half of those barred from the disaster payment are now at risk of homelessness, according to the Australian Council of Social Service.
As of Wednesday night the total amount paid out by the commonwealth government to NSW workers since 1 July was $219m, but that is expected to rise sharply as the lockdown affects new sectors and a greater geographical area.