Jane Howlett,Minister for Small Business
Tasmanian businesses are the engine room of our economy and the backbone of our regional communities.
While this lockdown has been short and sharp we know it has had an impact on Tasmanians and Tasmanian businesses.
For Tasmanians who are required to undertake 14 days of quarantine and who cannot earn an income because they must self-isolate, quarantine or care for someone who has COVID-19, there is support available through the Australian Government $1,500 Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment.
There is also the Tasmanian Government Pandemic Isolation assistance grants scheme for those who are directed to have a test or are placed into 14 days quarantine, with financial assistance of $250 per adult and $125 per child, capped at $1,000 per household available to help people whose income is affected.
In addition to this, as the Premier announced on Saturday, the Government will extend the Pandemic Isolation Assistance grants Scheme to include people who have been impacted by the stay at home order but not necessarily placed into quarantine for 14 days and who have lost income and meet the criteria.
The Australian Government has also activated the COVID-19 Disaster Payment for eligible workers affected by the southern Tasmania lockdown.
Tasmanian workers who are eligible will receive a pro-rata proportion of the weekly payment of $750 if they have lost 20 or more hours of work, and $450 if they have lost between eight and 20 hours of work.
The payment is available to eligible people who live or work in the affected Local Government Areas of Brighton, Central Highlands, Clarence City, Derwent Valley, Glamorgan-Spring Bay, Glenorchy, Hobart City, Huon Valley, Sorell, Southern Midlands, Tasman, and Kingborough.
People currently receiving an income support payment can also claim an extra payment of $200 if they have lost 8 hours or more of work, or a full day’s work, and meet the other eligibility requirements for the COVID-19 Disaster Payment.
Eligible Tasmanians can get ready to claim the most appropriate Australian Government payment now by creating a myGov account, if they don’t already have one, noting that only one payment can be accessed. The claims will open on Friday 22 October and Tasmanians affected by the southern lockdown will be able to claim financial support for the period of 6pm Friday 15th October to 6pm Monday 18th October.
Eligible people wanting to claim the Tasmanian Government’s Pandemic Isolation Assistance grants should contact the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738.
