Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Hansard source

The Australian government has provided more than $850 million of measures to support senior Australians in aged care in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes $234.9 million for a COVID-19 aged-care worker retention bonus to ensure the continuity direct care workers in residential and home care. This payment is specifically to encourage direct care workers providing clinical care and personal care to remain in their employment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Extra income of up to $1,600 will be paid to eligible residential direct care workers and up to $1,200 to eligible direct home care workers who are eligible and work through both cycles of payments. The government never stated that the payments would be tax-free payments, because that is not how income bonuses work.