While announcing prolonged Covid payments, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese lost his cool when a different journalist questioned if Queen Elizabeth II appeared on the $5 bill.
Mr. Albanese said that the payments will continue beyond the deadline of September 30 and would continue so long as all states and territories implemented the five-day mandated isolation intervals.
Workers may obtain up to $540 of the amount to make up for missing wages when confined to Covid isolation.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told off another journalist for asking about Queen Elizabeth II’s appearance on the $5 note while announcing extended Covid payments
‘The government has a responsibility to provide support during that period which is designated currently at five days, except for people in aged care, disability care, et cetera, which remains at seven days,’ Mr Albanese told reporters on Wednesday.
‘We remain obviously of the view that if people are sick, whether from Covid or from other health issues, they should not be at work and that is important.’
Mr Albanese also announced a new cap on payment that will stop people from claiming more than three payments within a six-month period.
‘Services Australia data indicates that over the six months to the 30 June, 2022, of claims made by individuals who claimed more than once, about 13 per cent were claimed four or more times,’ he said.
‘That is a claim every 6.5 weeks or more.’
The announcement was followed by a series of question where one reporter made the mistake of asking Mr Albanese if the Queen will be removed from Australian $5 notes.
‘My view is that Queen Elizabeth’s funeral is next Monday. Queen Elizabeth’s funeral is next Monday, my focus isn’t on who is on the $5,’ he said.
Mr Albanese will fly over to London for the Queen’s funeral in Westminster Abbey on Monday.
The funeral will be followed by an Australian public holiday on Thursday declared a ‘national day of mourning’ for the monarch of 70 years and a Canberra memorial service.