SYDNEY - The line for unemployment benefits curled around the block in an upscale neighbourhood of Australia's largest city, with officially prescribed wide distances between everyone in need.
But the havoc inflicted by the virus is delivering a special psychological blow in Australia, a country less familiar with declining fortunes and dim prospects than almost any other.Immigration, rising trade with Asia - especially exports to China - and careful monetary policy kept the country growing even through the most challenging moments of the global financial crisis.
Two of Australia's largest retailers also said they would close for at least four weeks, leaving another 15,000 people out of work - on top of tens of thousands more from smaller businesses, many of whom have never been unemployed. The new-found demand has produced a flood of complaints as Australians unfamiliar with welfare suddenly discover all the hurdles of identification and paperwork.
Mr Morrison's conservative party, known as the Liberals, has often criticised the stimulus package produced by a centre-left Labor government during the 2008-2009 financial crisis, arguing that it was wasteful and unneeded. Many Australians, at every level of the economy, are flummoxed and struggling to even put into words what is happening.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Source: The Straits Times - 🏆 8. / 63 Read more »
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »
Source: TODAYonline - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »