More than one million welfare recipients are being excluded from COVID-19 disaster payments, despite being locked down and financially vulnerable. The Australia Council of Social Service (ACOSS) has urged the Morrison government to back down from its decision to exclude the group, warning it is becoming a “public health issue”. “People can’t stay home in lockdown if they lose their home because they cannot afford to keep it,” ACOSS CEO Cassandra Goldie said.The federal government’s emergency COVID-19 disaster payments are failing to provide any assistance to those who need it most, welfare groups warn. As Victoria, ... (full story)