This lockdown's wage subsidy and support cost passes $1b

This lockdown's wage subsidy and support cost passes $1b
Staff reporters
The government has already paid out more than $1 billion in wage subsidies and business support payments since the latest national lockdown began on Aug 18.Minister of finance Grant Robertson's office said it had approved 206,682 wage subsidy applications and paid out $811.6 million as of Aug 29.Through to 1pm on Monday, it had approved a further 103,945 applications for the resurgence support payment and paid out another $325.2m.On Aug 24, Robertson estimated two weeks at level 4 would cost the country about $2b in wage subsidies.Last year...