Let's Give This Another Spin

Increasing mid-year COVID-19 case numbers coincided with the end of the $750 pandemic leave disaster payments. The new prime minister was reluctant to extend the measures, saying ending them was a budgetary decision made by the previous government. However, state and territory leaders, health experts and unions lobbied the Albanese government to maintain the payments in the face of the looming winter wave of infections. Ultimately, the scheme was extended until the end of September.