Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said Mr Tehan had not provided clarity over what was available to help people unable to work during the snap lockdown.

"Well who wasn't confused by Dan Tehan," Mr Albanese said.

"He's appeared on Insiders twice now. The previous time he spent his entire interview attacking the Andrews government in Victoria. Then had to go out and apologise. And today he should apologise for the confusion on the Insider's program."

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Mr Albanese said he wasn't sure what Mr Tehan was saying. "I know that he wasn't clear at all. But he implied that there was already significant economic support available.

"The federal government needs to clarify exactly what it means. This is a government where the messages, whether it's about income support, about whether people should be vaccinated, or whether it be about national quarantine needs to get its messages straight."

Mr Tehan was asked what support the federal government would give affected workers during the lockdown. "Well, we already have existing support available for Victorians. There is a disaster pandemic leave payment that is available. There is also...," Mr Tehan said.

However, host David Speers interjected saying that payment was only available for people with COVID or close contacts. "And there is also an emergency health payment that is available as well," Mr Tehan said.

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He said people who were unable to work during the lockdown should go to Centrelink to see if they were eligible for assistance.

But Mr Speers again questioned this, asking whether Mr Tehan was introducing a new policy that allows people without coronavirus to access financial assistance.

Mr Tehan said people would undergo an assessment to see whether they were eligible for assistance. "They will assess your situation and see whether you are eligible for a payment. And what you have to remember, David, in terms of federal government support for Victoria during this pandemic, we have paid more federal government support for Victoria per capita than any state or territory.

"It is $46 billion, and if you accumulate what we've paid in support to every other state and territory, the support we've paid to Victoria is double that."

Australia Community Media sought further comment from Mr Tehan on Monday and was referred to the program's transcript.

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