They're mostly international students - wearing masks and standing 1m apart - waiting for free leftovers from a Thai or Chinese restaurant.

They don't want to be identified, they tell me, because they feel a bit embarrassed about queuing for a charity meal.

It is a bit of a shock to see food queues in modern Australia - a wealthy nation which has suppressed the virus far better than others.

We've noted the shocking job loss numbers today. But the strain is particularly bad for people in Australia on student and temporary migrant visas.

They've never been eligible for government welfare so the virus-specific help doesn't go to them. Most also relied on work in hospitality and service industries - the areas worst hit in lockdown.

Early on in the pandemic, the government advised non-Australians to go home. But the cost, and later travel bans that came into place, made that impossible for many.

And they still have rent, school fees and transport costs to pay. So any bit of help - like a free lunch - goes a long way at the moment.