Australia: Businesses affected by coronavirus should have access to disaster relief funds, says Queensland
By Amy Remeikis
Queensland will use the upcoming meeting of state leaders and the prime minister to appeal to the federal government to open up its natural disaster assistance payments to local industries impacted by the coronavirus.
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Morrison and treasurer Josh Frydenberg have consistently outlaid why the coronavirus impact was different to previous pandemics, including Sars and Mers, by pointing out the growth in the Chinese economy in the years between the viral infections, and Australia’s increased economic reliance on China.
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Queensland, which announced its own $27.5m disaster package for the state’s tourism and transport, aviation, higher education, farmers, aquaculture and fishing industries mid-last month, intends on treating the pandemic as a natural disaster.
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Activating the disaster relief payments allows a variety of funds to flow through a disaster declared zone, including one-off payments of up to $1,000 for affected individuals, and up to 13 weeks of a Newstart-like allowance for businesses.
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