The Australian newspaper is reporting that special welfare
payments and visa extensions will be offered to non-residents who
lose their job and are stranded in Australia, unable to return
home, due to the Coronavirus.
There are an estimated 1.5 million people currently on temporary
visas without access to government services.
Reports suggest that the government is looking at a form of
support payment and are devising a plan to place highly skilled
temporary migrants into high demand regions, such as health, aged
care, agriculture, and other essential services.
This welfare assistance may also include partner visa and
humanitarian visa holders.
Currently, no temporary or provisional visa holders have access
to welfare support, except people on a special category visa, who
arrived before February 2020.
