JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Yesterday, we released the National Account numbers and we saw a very strong performance by the Australian economy, increasing by 1.8 per cent in the March quarter. While Japan, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany all saw their economies contract over the March quarter, the Australian economy expanded. In fact, beating market expectations. The Australian economy is today bigger than it was going into the pandemic. There are more people in work in Australia today than going into the pandemic. We know the pandemic is still with us and as long as the pandemic is still with us, the Morrison Government’s support continues. We’ve seen the devastating news in Victoria about the extension of the seven day lockdown. It’s a very difficult time for Victorian families and for businesses. This is the fourth lockdown that Victorians have had to endure. Since that nation-wide lockdown early last year we’ve seen Victoria experience 140 days of lockdown, yet the average across the other states and territories has been just six days. We’ve seen in New South Wales kids kept home from school for around 29 days, yet in Victoria some kids have been out of the classroom for 21 weeks. This is really, really tough on Victorians. Yesterday, I had a constructive discussion with my Victorian counterpart, Tim Pallas, the Prime Minister spoke to the acting Premier, James Merlino. We’re considering our options with respect to further support. Our support from the start of this crisis has been guided by a set of principles. Those principles namely have been that it’s been temporary, that it’s been targeted, that it’s been measured, that it’s used existing systems. Those principles have served us well and will continue to serve us well with respect to further announcements of support.
JOURNALIST:
If not JobKeeper, what support can be offered to workers who have lost at least two weeks of income?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
I don’t want to pre-empt any decisions or announcements to be made but a couple of points. Firstly, the first week of the lockdown, we were very clear that that would be the responsibility of the state government to respond as they had the capacity to do so. We’ve seen other state-wide lockdowns across the Greater Brisbane area, across the Perth metropolitan and Peel regions, post the end of JobKeeper. They didn’t ask for additional support from the Federal Government, additional support was not required from the Federal Government. So with respect for that first week, our position has been clear. That has been the responsibility of the state.
JOURNALIST:
But this situation is worse, isn’t it?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
This situation has been exacerbated in Victoria by the extension of the lockdown for another week and we’re considering not just the implications of that, but the options for support.
JOURNALIST:
When you and the Prime Minister spoke with your counterparts, were you satisfied that the extended lockdown was justified?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Again, our health authorities are speaking to one another, but as you know, it has been a difficult time for Victorians and when you consider for example, that regional areas have been subject to the same restrictions as inner Melbourne areas, it does raise questions that the Victorian Government obviously will seek to answer. Namely why does a regional city like Mildura with more than 50,000 people, that is more than 500 kilometres away from Melbourne, that hasn’t been the subject to a COVID case for 13 months, why does it have to be subject to the same restrictions that we’ve seen elsewhere. Why can’t all kids get back to school? They are legitimate questions that Victorians are asking. They’re questions that only the state government can answer. Victorians are also asking why us? Why do we have to endure a fourth lockdown when that has not been the experience of other states? But my job as the Federal Treasurer is to put in place a national system that can see support being provided where it is required.
JOURNALIST:
Numerous epidemiologists and virus experts have said that this variant in Victoria now is maybe no more transmissible, no more infectious, no more of a risk than other ones. Do you think the Victorian Government has been too enthusiastic in how they describe this virus as a beast that is more infectious than other ones?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
I’ve seen those reports, obviously, on the front page of The Age this morning. I’ve seen those comments. I’ll leave the commentary on those matters to the experts.
JOURNALIST:
Treasurer, for people without an income, every day counts. When can Victorians expect some Federal support?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
The first thing to say is the Victorian Government has already announced some support. So they announced a $250 million program for the first week of the lockdown which saw money going to businesses, not only to help meet their expenses, but no doubt to also provide for their staff. They’ve announced an additional $209 million. We’re considering our options and we’ll have more to say shortly. Thank you.