The tallest mountain in the Galapagos islands was erupting yesterday, spewing lava down its flanks and clouds of ash over the Pacific Ocean, according to Ecuador's Geophysical Institute.

A cloud of gas and ash from Wolf Volcano rose to 3793 metres above sea level following the eruption that began shortly before midnight Wednesday local time, the Institute said.

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Ecuador's Emergency Operations Committee said the new eruption on Isabela Island, the largest in the Galapagos chain, didn't represent a risk to humans or to native local species. Populated areas are located at the opposite side of the island.

But the Environment Ministry said eight people, including national park guards and scientists doing field work on pink iguanas living on the volcano's slopes, were evacuated from the area.

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The Galapagos Government Council said the emergency committee would continue monitoring the volcano to see in which direction the lava flows.

The 1701-metre volcano is one of numerous active volcanos in the Galapagos, which are nearly 1000 kilometres from mainland South America.

Images taken from afar and circulated by the government showed glowing lava piercing the pre-dawn darkness.

The volcano last erupted in 2015.

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The federal government has announced changes to its pandemic relief payment in order to reflect changing testing, isolation and close contact regulations across the country.

While a $750 payment has been available for people who have missed more than 20 hours of work because they have had to isolate after testing positive, been caring for someone with COVID-19, or is a close contact, the changes will see the amount scale depending on how much work is lost over a seven-day period.

This change will come into effect on January 18.

From next Monday, January 10, People who test positive for the virus via a rapid antigen test (RAT) will also now be able to apply for the payment, whereas previously only a PCR result was accepted.

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Some states are moving to include RAT results in official COVID-19 case numbers, with Victoria becoming the first to include them today.

"The Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment ensures that eligible workers either diagnosed with COVID-19, identified as a close contact or caring for someone with COVID-19 can access the support they need," Federal Infrastructure Minister Bridget McKenzie said.

The Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment will be calculated based on the number of hours of work someone has lost or is expected to lose during a quarantine period of up to seven days.

Anyone who last lost or is set to lose more than 20 hours of work will still be eligible for $750.

For people that have lost at least a day, up to 19 hours, can get $450.

A financial hardship test will also be introduced, with people who have $10,000 or more in available funds unable to claim the payments.

The scheme is being funded by both federal and state governments.

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Claims will need to be lodged through Centrelink, with a new online claim system set to be created to help make the process easier.

A man has died after falling from a cliff in Sydney's south-east.

The man, believed to be in his 20s, allegedly fell approximately 30 metres from a cliff between Coogee Beach and Gordons Bay.

Emergency services arrived at the scene and attempted CPR, however they were unable to save the man.

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Crowds of beachgoers watched as an emergency helicopter arrived at Coogee Bay Oval to help lift the man up.

Police were at the top of the cliff face keeping the public away from the scene as a rescue team in harnesses prepping to go down the cliff face.

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