Hon. Ken Baston questions the Minister for Community Services regarding financial assistance for Kimberley and East Pilbara residents self-isolating due to COVID-19, highlighting a discrepancy in advice from different government sources. The Minister's response clarifies eligibility and application process.

AnsweredQoN 378Legislative Council
Asked
17 April 2020
Portfolio
Community Services

QuestionView source ↗

CORONAVIRUS —
INTRASTATE TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS — KIMBERLEY AND EAST PILBARA
378. Hon KEN BASTON to the Leader of the House representing
the Minister for Community Services:
I refer to the answer to question
357 asked on 16 April regarding financial assistance available to residents of
the Kimberley and East Pilbara who are required to self-isolate for 14 days
outside of those regions if they need to travel for essential reasons.
(1) Would the minister please
outline who is eligible for this assistance and how should they apply?
(2) What is the dollar value of the financial
assistance available to individuals or families in these circumstances?
(3) Why is the
answer provided by the Minister for Health contrary to the advice given by the
13 COVID advice line today, which confirmed that self-isolation is to be
covered at one's own expense?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1)–(2) Support
is available through the 13 COVID hotline for demonstrated financial hardship.
Support can include emergency accommodation
and other emergency welfare requirements, and is assessed on a case- by-case
basis.
(3) The emergency
assistance provided by the Department of Communities is available if financial
hardship is demonstrated.
If
there was some specific case that the honourable member was referring to, I would
be happy to take it up for him with the Minister for Community Services.

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