Thread by @abc730

Up to a million Australians have already lost their jobs thanks to this pandemic and many businesses have had to close. Today the Government announced a #wagesubsidy plan to stop the mass layoffs continuing. #abc730 @carringtonAU #auspol

“At first we went into sort of survival mode of how are we going to get the business through this time… serving people with home delivery or through our takeaway window, all those sorts of things.” - Red Dog Café owner Dylan Peters. #abc730 #coronavirus

"It sounds like the payments won't come to us till May. Most hospitality businesses run on net profits of 5 per cent, some less, some more. It will be interesting to see which businesses can sustain payroll for a month without having to borrow money." - Dylan Peters, café owner

“It was quite a sudden cut. One day everything was normal and the next day we had to shut the studio. There wasn’t any pre-warning that was going to happen and we all found ourselves out of work that day.” - Casual pilates instructor Beth Feigl. #abc730 #wagesubsidy #coronavirus

“I am quite worried about the next six to twelve months. When we originally lost our jobs and we were told two weeks, then we were told four weeks. Now it’s a huge unknown.” - Beth Feigl. #abc730 #wagesubsidy #coronavirus

As a sole trader Matthew Canning is eligible for a payment but he worries it won’t be enough. “If it goes on for many months then further assistance, particularly with rents and things like that, would definitely be welcome.” #abc730 #wagesubsidy #coronavirus