I received a huge pay from work yesterday, and I know I'm not getting any bonus. So I called HR and she found a copy of my pay slip for me, which said I got my regular leave payment from work, plus just under $4,500 government leave entitlement (net).

I'm confused about why that amount has been paid now, because I'm getting 24 weeks leave pay from work, which began 01/10, so hasn't finished yet. I opted for the 18 weeks government leave pay to start after that, so why would I get it now? And why that lump sum? It's not the total, is that a months worth or something?

I have no idea what this is about, can't get through to centrelink and want a bit of an idea what it could be before any of it gets spent.