COVID-19 Compensation

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (15:30): My question is to the Treasurer. Will the government initiate compensation payments to businesses when they get impacted by COVID transmission after November 23?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (15:31): I do not believe that there are any current government—federal government or state government—schemes that apply to the circumstances the honourable member has questioned. Therefore, what we have said so far is we will monitor to see what, if anything, any other state or territory jurisdiction does in similar circumstances and make judgements accordingly. At this stage, the answer to the question is there is no existing scheme we believe that the federal government will provide any funding for, or a state government scheme.

The state government and the federal government, to be fair, have provided significant funding over the 18 months of the pandemic to impacted businesses by way of JobKeeper in the federal government's circumstances and other schemes and from the state government a variety of grant schemes and relief schemes that we have provided. At the moment, there is no current scheme that is available. We will monitor what occurs in other jurisdictions to see what, if anything, governments might be prepared to provide by way of ongoing assistance.

I think the government's record has demonstrated a willingness to monitor and provide taxpayer-funded assistance to a considerable degree. We will monitor the circumstances, but at this stage the answer to the question is there is no existing state or, as we understand it, federal government scheme that applies to businesses as outlined by the member.