Prime Minister Scott Morrison has revealed a total $189 billion stimulus package to help the Australian economy through the coronavirus pandemic.
This figure is worth about 10 per cent of the size of the Australian economy and includes extending the eligibility to benefit payments.
“We will be focusing on those in the front line, those who will be filling the first blows of the economic impact of the coronavirus,” Mr Morrison said on Sunday morning.
“We will be supercharging our safety net and supporting the most vulnerable to the impacts of the crisis, those who will feel those first blows.”
The measures will double income support for those on Jobseeker (formally Newstart), more support for pensioners and carers and grants of up to $100,000 for small and medium-sized businesses.
Mr Morrison also criticised Sydneysiders for heading out in droves to Bondi Beach on Saturday and warned there would be “far more Draconian measures” discussed as a result.
Speaking at a press conference in Canberra on Sunday morning, Mr Morrison said what happened at Bondi Beach was “not OK and served as a message to federal and state leaders that too many Australians are not taking these issues seriously enough”.
He said the national cabinet had already taken “significant actions” but he knew more would need to be done to ensure social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic. The next meeting has been moved forward to Sunday evening, which will focus on stronger measures to deal with outbreaks in state and territories.
“The measures that we will be considering tonight means that state premiers and chief ministers may have to take far more Draconian measures to enforce social distancing particularly in areas of outbreaks than might otherwise be the case,” he said.
“In the months ahead, we will find out just how strong we are,” Mr Morrison said.theage