Hazard pay petition

FEDERAL Assistant Treasurer, Michael Sukkar, has acknowledged the role community pharmacies have played during the COVID‐19 crisis, in response to a pe on calling for hazard pay for essen al health workers, tabled in the House of Representa ves yesterday.

The pe on sought specific support for pharmacy workers in the form of a “tax holiday” and a “hazard allowance” no ng “the Government has supported others [excluding us] since the very beginning of this pandemic”.

Responding to the pe on, Sukkar said the Government had “acted decisively to support households and businesses” during the pandemic, with a series of s mulus packages worth $259 billion.

“The package is designed to support businesses across all sectors to retain jobs and manage short‐term cash flow challenges, provide support to individuals, severely affected communi es and regions, and to ensure the con nued flow of credit in the Australian economy,” he said.

“Community pharmacies have played a central role in suppor ng their community during the recent bushfires and have kept their doors open to support pa ents during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

“In Jun the Government finalised the Seventh Community Pharmacy Agreement (7CPA), which is expected to provide $18.3 billion over five years and ensure Australians have access to more than 200 million subsidised prescrip ons each year through their community pharmacy of choice.

“The 7CPA demonstrates the Government’s ongoing support for pa ents and community pharmacy.

“It also acknowledges that Australia’ community pharmacies will con nue to be crucial to the Government’s efforts to improve the health of all Australians.”