The Health Services Union is extremely dismayed and surprised by the Albanese Labor Government’s decision to withdraw the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payments.

Quotes attributable to HSU National Secretary Lloyd Williams

“This decision will hurt essential and low paid health, aged care and disability workers.

These workers continue to be subject to isolation rules and without this support mechanism HSU members are forced to jeopardise their financial security in order to isolate as required and keep the vulnerable individuals they work with safe.

For many workers in health and community services, access to paid leave is either not available due to the insecure or casual nature of their employment, or paid leave balances being low due to leave accruing on part-time contracts.

“These frontline workers have used up their sick leave and relied on these payments as vital support. For some it can mean being able to put food on the table for their families.

The union movement should have been consulted on this issue as a matter of priority. We are disappointed the decision was made without the input of health workers.

We call on the Federal Government to urgently reinstate Pandemic Leave Disaster Payments.”