Coronavirus LIVE Queensland updates: More than 160,000 COVID-19 tests conducted as state rejects calls to reopen borders
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Summary
Australia's death toll has hit 101, with an 80-year-old woman dying in NSW overnight.
Ex-federal treasurer Wayne Swan says NSW's behaviour has been 'reprehensible' in the border stoush with Queensland.
Queensland has recorded 1058 COVID-19 cases, with 1040 patients making a recovery.
A major milestone was reached yesterday, with 5 million confirmed cases across the globe.
If you need support, call the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349. If you would like to help, register here for the "Care Army" to support seniors during the COVID crisis.
'Significant error' as Treasury reveals much lower JobKeeper use
By Shane Wright
The Federal Treasury has admitted a "significant error" in the Morrison government's JobKeeper application form has greatly inflated the number of people using the scheme and its total cost.
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In a statement released on its website, the department revealed the $130 billion program - the centrepiece of the government's response to the coronavirus pandemic - was likely to cost $70 billion and cover 3.5 million workers, rather than more than 6 million.
It said a tax office review of the enrolment forms used by businesses to apply for the scheme had found about 1000 firms had made "significant errors" when estimating the number of staff who would use the program.
Friday recap: Federal government overestimates JobKeeper cost by $60 billion, and Queensland still has just 12 active COVID-19 cases
That's a wrap for today's Brisbane Times coronavirus blog for the week. Stick with us over the weekend to keep up-to-date with what you need to know.
Here's a recap of today's major developments:
Budgeting errors don't get much bigger than this. Federal Treasury revealed this afternoon that the $130 billion JobKeeper program covering 6 million workers was, it turns out, a $70 billion program covering 3.5 million workers.
Queensland's good run continues, with no new confirmed cases in the state overnight.
That means the state's total number of COVID-19 cases remains at 1058, six of whom have died and 1040 of whom have recovered.
There remains 12 active cases in Queensland.
That's all good news for a June 12 start date for stage two of eased restrictions, which would allow groups of up to 20 and travel within 250 kilometres from home.
Don't forget to send your kids to school on Monday! Students from Years 2 to 10 will be welcomed back to class next week.
The border stoush shows no sign of letting up, with Annastacia Palaszczuk urging Queenslanders to take a holiday within the state in the next few months. Though it's not as if they can go anywhere else.
The Regatta, Darling & Co, Buffalo Bar and Carindale Hotel to reopen
Four Brisbane venues will reopen on Monday after enforced COVID-19 closures.
The Regatta Hotel in Toowong, Darling & Co in Paddington, the Carindale Hotel and Brisbane CBD's Buffalo Bar will fling their doors open for the first time in nine weeks.
Scott Brydson, Queensland manager for parent company Australian Venue Co, says the reopenings will be celebrated with the opportunity for one group of 10 family and friends to book the whole pub for themselves.
“We’ve created some new contactless measures that help us to comply with government restrictions and guarantee our customers a safe and enjoyable experience at our venues,” he says.
“Our Queensland-based venues are proud to pioneer this new, safe socialising experience for our customers. We are determined to not let a bit of distance stand in the way of creating a memorable customer experience."
Select AVC hotel and motel venues will also once again be offering accommodation for visitors.
Clive Palmer to challenge WA border closures in High Court after exemption application denied
By Hamish Hastie
Queensland billionaire Clive Palmer will challenge Western Australia's hard border closure in the High Court next week after claims he was denied an exemption to enter the state.
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Mr Palmer was scheduled to enter the state last Friday on his private jet to meet with federal Liberal Senator Mathias Cormann and potential United Australia Party candidates for the 2021 WA election but said his application was knocked back by police.
Mr Palmer said he was also travelling to meet Perth-based staff at his mining company Mineralogy to discuss the logistics and supply of the 32.9 million doses of the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine he plans to donate to the Australian government's national medical stockpile to study its effectiveness against COVID-19.
Drought-ravaged regional Queensland cries out for faster travel restriction easing
By Toby Crockford
With the state's 12 remaining active COVID-19 cases concentrated in the south-east, regional Queensland tourism associations are calling on the state government to widen travel limits to help outback businesses.
Outback Queensland Tourism Association and regional tourism offices for Cairns, Townsville, Whitsundays and Mackay regions want recreational travel limits to be widened for the Stage 2 easing - due on June 12.
OQTA chief executive Denise Brown says the north Queensland economy, which supports 37,400 jobs, is losing more than $90 million each week.
She adds that outback Queensland attracts about 1.1 million visitors each year, with 80 per cent of travel coming from within Queensland, making the school holiday period a critical time for the industry.
“Border restrictions must be reviewed to enable tourism to re-ignite our regions which have already been so heavily impacted by 10 years of drought," Ms Brown says.
“The outback Queensland community has proven they can do it [be COVID-safe], but now it’s time we give them the opportunity to operate.
“Given the lower risk profile of north Queensland, the sooner we can get back to business and support the outback economy, the extensive losses and ongoing difficulties for our industry will be felt for a long time.”
'Tragedy and heartbreak': Prince Charles launches memorial to COVID-19 victims
By Robert Mendick
The Prince of Wales has spoken movingly of the "heartbreak and tragedy" wrought by COVID-19 as he launched Britain's first national memorial to the tens of thousands of victims of the pandemic at St Paul's Cathedral.
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In a video address Thursday, the Prince said the memorial and an online book of remembrance would help grieving relatives and friends to not only "recall our loss and sorrow" but also "to be thankful for everything good that those we have loved brought into our lives".
The online book, called Remember Me and available at rememberme2020.uk, allows families to upload a photograph of a loved one and include a tribute to go with it.
In a day, they come. Powderfinger reunion a little more than 24 hours away
In little more than 24 hours, Brisbane rock legends Powderfinger will end their 10-year isolation by reforming and playing a virtual gig from their respective home studios.
The show will be titled One Night Lonely and support mental health not-for-profit Beyond Blue as well as Support Act, which offers crisis relief services to artists, crew and music workers.
The performance is planned for tomorrow night and will be streamed on the band’s YouTube channel from 7pm AEST, with the setlist to feature a medley of their biggest hits.
“The five of us have been meeting regularly over the past few months to organise some Odyssey Number 5 anniversary releases,” Powderfinger says in a statement.
“The past few months has been a very strange time for us all and difficult days for many.
“We really just want to bring a smile to some people’s faces and along the way raise some funds to help our music industry mates and people who are currently experiencing mental health issues.”
Drive-in pops the corn two months before indoor cinemas
By Jocelyn Garcia
The smell of buttery popcorn should soon have movie buffs salivating again as Queenland's cinemas prepare to dust off their projectors and once again welcome customers in front of their big screens.
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But for those keen to watch movies from the familiar surroundings of their own cars, that moment has already arrived.
Queensland will enter its third stage of easing restrictions, which is expected to permit a maximum of 100 people in indoor cinemas, on July 10.
One-fifth in English poll wonder if China made coronavirus to control the West
London: One in five people in England believe to some extent that China created coronavirus as a bio-weapon to control the West, research on conspiracy theories has suggested.
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A survey has revealed that when asked what they thought of this conspiracy theory, 55 per cent did not agree, 20.2 per cent agreed a little and 5.5 per cent agreed completely.
The research, led by clinical psychologists at the University of Oxford and published in the journal Psychological Medicine, revealed that 59 per cent of adults in England believe to some extent that the government is misleading the public about the virus cause.
More than a fifth (21 per cent) believe the virus is a hoax and 62 per cent agree to some extent that it is man-made.
New Zealand opposition leader ousted as PM Ardern's popularity soars
The leader of New Zealand's main opposition party was ousted on Friday after opinion polls showed he was no match for the soaring popularity of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Simon Bridges was replaced by Todd Muller in an emergency caucus meeting of his centre-right National Party following a week of disastrous poll results.
Just 5 per cent of New Zealanders supported Bridges, 43, as the country's leader in a poll published on Thursday, while support for the Nationals fell to the lowest in decades. The same poll revealed Ardern, 39, enjoyed the support of 63 per cent of the electorate.
Ardern's popularity has shot higher in recent weeks with around 84 per cent of New Zealanders approving of her government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
Another poll showed Ardern had become New Zealand's most popular prime minister in a century and her Labour Party-led coalition would be handed a huge victory at the September 19 election.
Muller, 51, a largely unknown figure at the national level, had not been publicly perceived as a potential leader. Speaking to the media after the party ballot, he emphasised his strong ties to the rural farming community, the backbone of New Zealand's economy.
Muller held roles at both dairy giant Fonterra and kiwifruit growers cooperative Zespri.
"I come from New Zealand communities that define this country," Muller said.
"The question sitting in front of all New Zealanders in the next 100 days is who actually has the best plan and the team to deliver it."
Muller said Ardern was "impressive" in her handling of the coronavirus crisis and his focus would be on the country's economic recovery, not criticising the current leader.
Nikki Kaye, 40, was elected as the Nationals' deputy leader, replacing Paula Bennett. Kaye has twice defeated Ardern in previous electorate battles.