Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers has brushed off criticism the government was too slow to act in reinstating the pandemic leave payments in the wake of rising COVID-19 cases. The $750 pandemic isolation payment, which ended on June 30, was extended to the end of September following a national cabinet meeting on Saturday.
The government had previously ruled out bringing back the payments due to budget pressures.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had told reporters on July 12 when announcing the end to COVID-19 payments: “We’re making an announcement today which will add to the government’s bottom line federally, and there are a range of things we would like to do, but we intend to be fiscally responsible in how we deal with issues.”…