Coronavirus live news: global deaths near 500,000 as Australian state of Victoria steps up efforts to fight outbreak

Cases approach 10m; new Covid-19 clusters across world spark fear of second wave; UK NHS will take four years to recover. Follow the latest updates

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is reportedly likely to announce a permanent boost to unemployment benefit payments in the mini-budget in July, AAP reports.

The federal government won’t reduce the country’s dole payments to the amount that the unemployed were receiving in the pre-coronavirus era, a media report says.

News Corp Australia newspapers cite senior ministers as saying the JobSeeker unemployment benefits formerly known as Newstart will increase from $565.70 a fortnight to $715.70.

The government temporarily raised the welfare payment from a base rate of $565.70 a fortnight to $1115.70 during the pandemic, a change due to end in September.

News Corp reports Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is likely to announce a permanent boost to unemployment benefit payments in the mini-budget in July.

Hello and welcome to today’s live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic with me, Helen Sullivan.

I’ll be bringing you the latest for the next few hours. A reminder that you can get in touch on twitter @helenrsullivan or via email: helen.sullivan@theguardian.com.

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from The Guardian https://ift.tt/31pfogz

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