The Australian government has confirmed that it will indefinitely extend pandemic leave payments for workers contracting COVID-19.
This means infected people who have to take leave from work can apply for support payments as long as they are under mandatory isolation in all states and territories.
The Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment scheme was introduced by the previous Coalition government in August 2020 and was due to expire at the end of September 2022.
Under the current program, qualified employees can receive a maximum payment of $750 (US$505) for their seven-day isolation period, while payments for those subject to a five-day isolation period are capped at $540….