South Australia is the worst-hit state from an employment perspective during the coronavirus pandemic, with unemployment jumping to 7.2 per cent. Follow live.

South Australia is the worst-hit state from an employment perspective during the coronavirus pandemic, with unemployment jumping to 7.2 per cent.
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And that’ll do me for today Dan Miller will be taking you through this afternoon, while Jon Healy will be on board to answer all your questions.
Thanks for following along.
3mminutes agoBy Bridget Judd
Key Event
WA records one new case of COVID-19
That takes the states total to 554.The new case is a woman in her 30s from the metropolitan area.She was a close contact of a previously confirmed case.
5mminutes agoBy Bridget Judd
Key Event
Queensland records no new cases of coronavirus
 The total number of cases remains at 1,052 with only 16 cases active.
13mminutes agoBy Bridget Judd
Is the Government still expecting unemployment to hit 10 per cent?
“Treasury’s forecast is for unemployment to reach around 10 per cent.
“But importantly, Treasury have also said, but for the JobKeeper program, it would be 15 per cent and that’s really important to understand.”
22mminutes agoBy Jon Healy
PM says JobKeeper review will go ahead as planned
With Australia’s economy starting to come back to life as restrictions lift and businesses reopen, there are questions being asked about the JobKeeper program.
Those $1,500 fortnightly payments are set to remain in place for months to come, but there is a review set out for June.
“The review was built in to the program when we started it,” Mr Morrison said.
Earlier in the press conference he said the supports the Government has put in place “will remain vital in the months ahead”.
39mminutes agoBy Bridget Judd
Scott Morrison is addressing the unemployment figures
Mr Morrison says the pandemic is a war that is being fought on two fronts the virus itself and the “economic devastation it brings”.
“This has always been a battle that is critically important.”
He says states and territories must work together to reopen the economy, adding that a rebound is starting to occur as Australians see the plan forward.
He says Australians are resilient, and can bounce back and recover.
“Hard work, that’s the way out. It’s always been the way out for us.
“Australians hurting today, they can look forward knowing, on the basis of our national character and ingenuity and resolution, that we will see those better days.”
57mminutes agoBy Bridget Judd
Could JobKeeper be masking the reality?
The Grattan Institute’s Danielle Wood says about 5 million Australians are on the scheme and while they’re stood down, they’re not participating in the labour force.
“That is why we are seeing that big fall in hours worked, but they are not showing up in those official statistics.”It shows that program has been a success. But, at the same time, not great for the economy that we do have very significant numbers of people not participating in the labour force at this point in time.”
1hhour agoBy Bridget Judd
Key Event
Unemployment figures rise to 6.2 per cent for April
       
  Australias jobless rate has jumped because of government restrictions and business shutdowns caused by the coronavirus pandemic.The Bureau of Statistics says the unemployment rate jumped from 5.2 per cent seasonally adjusted in March to 6.2 per cent seasonally adjusted in April  less than expected by economists.About 594,300 jobs were lost last month.The Grattan Institute’s Danielle Wood says economists were expecting that figure to be higher.
“I mean certainly in terms of the number of people becoming unemployed is extremely high by historical standards and the rate we are seeing unemployment shoot up again, like nothing we have ever seen.”Really, what is going on here as well is we have seen a fall in the participation rate at the same time as a lot of people just decided it wasn’t worth looking for work in the individual environment.”So in terms of that headline unemployment figure, certainly a bit lower than what we are expecting, but it does really bring home just how significant and how fast this shock has been.”
So I can visit family, but can I hug them? 
I’ve been hearing that friends who are visiting family members and other pals have totally relaxed on social distancing. Within these 5-person visits, they are hugging and sitting close again. I’m pretty sure this is not okay but I’m confused as to why so many people are doing it now. If we’re all just going to be in close proximity and touch each other again, what is the point?-Confused
Yesterday this blog showed images of adults and children hugging as restrictions have begun easing and people can visit each other again. Are we allowed to hug one another now? I am desperate to visit my 4 year old niece, but can I hug her? I thought that no matter what, we still need to maintain a 1.5 m distance between us and those were are visiting. Please clear this up for me!-Missing My Niblings
It’s understandable to be a bit confused by some of this as more of us are allowed to visit family members.
With such low case numbers and restrictions being eased to allow us to visit other households, especially over the Mother’s Day weekend, it’s understandable that some people have forgotten or relaxed on some of these physical-distancing measures. BUT… the advice from just about every health authority remains that we should be avoiding physical contact wherever and whenever possible. Handshakes, hugs, kisses and other greetings are specifically mentioned.
1hhour agoBy Bridget Judd
We’ll be hearing from the Prime Minister in about 25 minutes..
It’ll follow the release of April’s unemployment figures.
As always, you can follow along on the blog, or watch live on the ABC News channel (at the top of this page).
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