Victoria shuts down, mining & resources to remain operating
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews yesterday announced the Melbourne metropolitan area will enter unprecedented Stage 4 Restrictions for the next six weeks to deal with its worsening COVID-19 outbreak.
The measures, which come into effect midnight Wednesday (5 August), include widespread closures or significant scaling back of ‘non-essential’ businesses.
Supermarkets, grocery stores, bottle shops, petrol stations, banks and news agencies, are examples of essential businesses that will remain open with strict COVID-safe workplace plans.
Most manufacturing operations and administrative workplaces (such as AREEA members’ CBD offices) will close, as will retailers without ‘click and collect’ systems in place. Construction sites will require significant scaling down of on-site workers by midnight Friday (7 August).
Mr Andrews did not reference mining and resources operations in his press conference, however AREEA’s strong understanding is they continue to be considered ‘essential businesses’ and fall into the third category – those that can continue operating with reduced workforces and COVID-safe practices.
Mr Andrews noted businesses in this category have already “stepped up” and “looked significantly different” than their pre-COVID workplace practices. Regional Victoria outside of the Melbourne metro area will return to Stage 3 Restrictions from midnight Wednesday.
AREEA members can visit the Victorian Government’s website for more information and / or contact an AREEA representative to assess their specific organisational needs.
PM announces pandemic leave disaster payment
Yesterday (3 August) the Prime Minister announced the establishment of a pandemic leave disaster payment for workers who have exhausted, or do not have, sick leave and have been directed to stay at home by a public health official.
The announcement follows Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews declaring a state of disaster after record numbers of positive cases across the state and untraceable community transmission.
The fortnightly $1,500 payment will be available to people who are instructed by a public health official to self-isolate and cannot attend work for 14 days. Anyone who is forced to self-isolate regardless of their job or employment will be able to access the payment and may receive the payment multiple times if they have to self-isolate more than once.
The disaster payment will be available to people who do not have access to personal leave entitlements and do not meet the eligibility requirements for JobKeeper and JobSeeker income support.
That payment has been modelled on the same criteria that the Victorian Government put in place last month.
The Prime Minister said the payment complements the Victorian scheme which applies to recipients including those on short-term visas who otherwise wouldn’t have accessed Commonwealth payments. The disaster payment is also said to supplement the payment already made by the State which provides each person $300 while waiting for test results.
From Wednesday (5 August), eligible recipients can apply for the payment over the phone using the disaster recovery payments process line on 180 22 66.
The Prime Minister did not rule out making the disaster payment available to other states should they be in the same position as Victoria and declare a state of disaster.
