Greater Sydney is in the midst of an unprecedented crisis with no end in sight. Four million people are now going into week seven of lockdown and, given the numbers of infections are climbing with millions yet to be vaccinated, this lockdown is not expected to end soon. Sadly the virus is now spreading to regions, with lockdowns extended beyond Sydney as a consequence.

The challenge confronting our community is threefold. To reduce transmission of the virus; to do so in a way that builds trust and social cohesion across the state; and to ensure the measures we take today don’t create a future disaster for families across Sydney. We cannot let this virus result in a more divided community.

Lockdowns remain a crucial part of the strategy for addressing that challenge, along with vaccination.

People across the city and the state want to do the right thing, but they need to be supported to do so. From our position in civil society, representing diverse communities across the city and the state, we call for the following measures:

Financial support for people who have lost income

As a result of following government directions, thousands of people have lost work and income. They must be financially supported to stay at home and stay safe in the short term. They must be assured that compliance with lockdown requirements will not result in eviction from their home, mounting debts for unpaid bills, and/or mortgage defaults down the track. This means:

• Anyone who qualifies for disaster payments due to lost income should also have access to extra funds to cover rent and essential utilities. Moratoriums on eviction and bills are not enough – they will only defer the disaster if they result in debts that will break households down the track. The existing rent reduction relief payments available must be extended from $1500 to $3000 to take account of the extended lockdown, and essential utility bills should be paid for all who have lost work due to lockdowns.

• All adult residents of affected areas who are not employed and/or have lost income should have access to Federal Government support payments of $750 per week..

• All workers including casuals and sole contractors in the caring and gig economies should have access to paid pandemic leave for testing, vaccination, and any required isolation.

• Daily media briefings need to include not only the numbers of infected, tested and vaccinated people, and the police compliance component; they must also include a daily breakdown of social safety net provisions available to everyone.