Coronavirus LIVE Queensland updates: death toll rises as IMF warns of $130b hit to the economy

Sixty new paramedics will be dispatched around the state. Cancer screening and some elective surgeries will restart across Queensland after they were suspended during the coronavirus pandemic. Brisbane Times reporter Lydia Lynch has more here.

Queensland residents are urged to work together to stamp out racism during the COVID-19 pandemic, with police laying 22 "racially motivated" charges since March 1. Matt Dennien has the full story here.

The national death toll stands at 63 and the economic impact is expected to endure.

Senior economics correspondent Shane Wright reports Australia will endure its largest economic hit since the onset of the Great Depression, the International Monetary Fund has warned, with unemployment to remain high for at least two more years in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Finally, the prime minister, premiers, and chief ministers are due to meet tomorrow and education is expected to be on national cabinet's agenda.

Thank you for joining us. Our rolling coverage will resume tomorrow but in the meantime, check the main site for the latest news and analysis.

The wage subsidy of $1500 a fortnight for each eligible employee is intended to help businesses and not-for-profits keep workers on the payroll as turnover drops.

Ms Rohan said the government should not undo the “good work” already announced in their payroll relief package, which contained a two-month rebate on the taxes, a three-month freeze and further deferral period of six months.

“We urge the government not to … put businesses at risk of racking up a bigger than normal bill after the freeze is lifted,” she said.

"If that tool is going to help them do that, then this may be one of the sacrifices we have to make," he told 6PR radio today.

The prime minister said the app would be a more efficient way of contact tracing coronavirus cases.

"What would happen then is the health authorities, who are the only ones who'd have access to that data, would contact those people just like they do now," he said.

He said the digital information would prevent a reliance on people's memories.

"At the end of the day (that) would mean we'd save lives and save more livelihoods," Mr Morrison said.

Singapore, where about 20 per cent of people have signed up to the app, has provided coding information to Australia for development.

Australian health authorities estimate a 40 per cent take-up rate would been needed for the scheme to be efficient.

Attorney-General Christian Porter has been tasked with investigating privacy issues surrounding TraceTogether.

But Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O'Shea said people should be concerned about a location-tracking app with no guarantees about how data would be used.

"No public trust means people will hesitate to install the app, and not-very- subtly coercing people by saying restrictions could ease if surveillance increases is an appalling way to start," she said.

Ms O'Shea said assurances the attorney-general would look at privacy issues were not enough.

"Everything about this needs to be transparent. The code must be independently audited," she said.

"There needs to be a clear benchmark for when data will no longer be collected and the app deactivated."

Communications Minister Paul Fletcher said the app would only proceed if the government was satisfied with privacy safeguards.

Deputy chief medical officer Nick Coatsworth said it would enhance case detection and interrupt transmission chains.

"With any sort of infectious disease, that's our fundamental weapon at the moment in the absence of a vaccine," he told reporters in Canberra.

He said privacy needed to be carefully considered, but labelled it a potentially important tool in the fight against coronavirus.

AAP

Ms Swartz says the cruise line is still working alongside NSW Health, Australian Border Force, the ABF’s contractor Aspen Medical and NSW police while the Ruby Princess remained at Port Kembla.

“What happened on Ruby Princess reflected what was happening in the world," she says.

"Even at the time the ship left Sydney, international flights were coming to Australia, the borders were still open and major sporting events were still being played to packed stadiums.

"This was an unprecedented global situation and everyone involved was no doubt making the best decisions they could at the time.

“I want to acknowledge the many decent people involved at this operational level who remain committed to the care and wellbeing of our crew, including those who were seriously ill.

"This will be a difficult period for all involved but we have a shared responsibility, along with all of society, to learn from these events.”