Coronavirus Australia live updates: WA bulk-carrier cases climb to 17 as NSW cases drop | Australia news

Apparently “ostensibly to empty his Vatican apartment” is an approved reason to leave the country during the border ban.

Speaking of budget announcements, the government wants your face.

As Daniel Hurst reports:

The Morrison government will expand the use of digital identity checks when businesses and individuals access services online, as part of an $800m package in next week’s budget to increase the take-up of new technologies.

As the government puts the finishing touches on its delayed budget, which is expected to foreshadow a deficit north of $200bn and ongoing high unemployment, the Coalition is rolling out a series of announcements that it says are designed to get the economy moving again.

But the government is coming under pressure for reducing the rate of jobkeeper and jobseeker payments over the past few days, with Labor accusing Scott Morrison of “mishandling this worst recession in almost a century” by cutting economic support “without a proper jobs plan to replace it”.

The biggest chunk of new funding in the “digital business plan” to be announced on Tuesday is $420m towards ensuring businesses can “quickly view, update and maintain their business registry data in one location”.

I mean, what on earth could go wrong? It isn’t like the government has access to mass surveillance systems and has put a bunch of bills through the parliament to be able to bypass the courts to access your data already. I’m sure it’s fine.

Western Australia recorded more new cases of Covid than Victoria yesterday, as it took in crew members from a bulk carrier ship anchored off its north coast, who have been stricken with the virus.

There are now 17 members of the Patricia Oldendorff who have been diagnosed with Covid, with the crew now quarantined in Port Hedland.

It’s the first time in yonks (official scientific time measurement) WA has dealt with Covid, which is why there are a lot of interested eyes on the west at the moment.

Meanwhile, NSW has seen it’s case numbers drop, reporting no cases for two consecutive days. But testing rates have also dropped, which has authorities worried. The clock is still ticking on the incubation period for possible infections from a taxi driver who (unknowingly) worked while infectious himself with Covid. So if you are in NSW and you have a sniffle or any other symptom: get tested.

In Victoria, Daniel Andrews will hold his 89th consecutive press conference, where the topic will no doubt be this:

And in Queensland, the election campaign continues.

The federal government meanwhile, is all about the federal budget. Yesterday had the re-announcement of domestic violence funding. Who knows what today could bring.

We’ll bring you all of it though, as it happens. You have Amy Remeikis with you for most of the day. As always you can reach me here and here and can drop me a line with any questions, complaints, commiserations etc.

Ready?

Let’s get into it.