The Federal Government’s new anti-fraud Taskforce Iris arrests two women in Port Macquarie over allegedly fraudulent claims for coronavirus and bushfire welfare assistance. Follow live.

The Federal Government’s new anti-fraud Taskforce Iris arrests two women in Port Macquarie over allegedly fraudulent claims for coronavirus and bushfire welfare assistance.
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3mminutes agoBy Simon Smale
Doesn’t matter who you are, if a cafe is at capacity, you aren’t coming in
New Zealand has eased some of its coronavirus restrictions in the last couple of days, with some cafe’s opening in a limited fashion for some patrons.
However, once that cafe is full, you won’t be allowed in, even if you’re the Prime Minister.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern tried to enter Wellington eatery Olive on Saturday, but was rejected as the restaurant was at capacity.
The Prime Minister’s partner, Clarke Gayford, confirmed the story on twitter.
For those of you concerned about whether or not the PM got her lunch, Mr Gayford said the venue chased them down to offer a table when one became available.
18mminutes agoBy Simon Smale
Key Event
Anti-fraud taskforce arrests two women on coronavirus, bushfire welfare fraud
Two women have been arrested over alleged fraudulent claiming of bushfire and coronavirus welfare assistance. 
Services Australia identified a range of suspicious claims submitted by the two women, aged 27 and 24.
It is alleged the two women used 25 assumed identities to try to claim more than $27,000 in welfare payments they were not entitled to.
The women had received $10,000 to date.
The Government alleges that the women made 25 fraudulent claims for the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment in realtion the summer 2019/20 bushfires; 
The women also allegedly made one fraudulent claim for JobSeeker payments in relation to COVID19.
The women were arrested at their homes in Port Macquarie on Thursday, and have each been charged with eight counts of obtaining a financial advantage by deception, contrary to Commonwealth legislation.
The offence carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. 
Both women were granted bail and are due to appear in court on July 22.
Minister for Home Affairs Peter Dutton said the government takes fraud and the protection of our welfare system very seriously.
The AFP and Services Australia have ramped up their efforts to make sure we come down heavily on people who seek to rip off taxpayer money that was intended to support people whose lives have been turned upside down by the devastating bushfires or COVID-19, Mr Dutton said in a statement.
               Stealing from the welfare system is not a victimless crime and our government has zero tolerance for those who seek to do so. 
31mminutes agoBy Simon Smale
Top End museums make changes to deal with coronavirus reopening
Museums and art galleries across the Northern Territory are grappling with new coronavirus restrictions as Territorians head out and about for the first time since March.
Restrictions on many indoor activities eased at midday on Friday, with businesses having to implement strict physical distancing and hygiene protocols.
Darwin’s Museum and Art Gallery NT will reopen on Monday, and Director Marcus Schutenko says many hands-on interactive exhibits have been replaced. 
We’re actually implementing a lot of really subtle but we hope impactful changes as far as creating a bit of physical distancing and creating a safer environment for people to walk around and explore our museum, he said. 
Reporting by Lauren Roberts
42mminutes agoBy Simon Smale
Dental correction
That info you posted earlier might be outed. Dentists are very much open in Victoria, they have limits on the tools they can use but you can go get a checkup. They were opened up again a few weeks ago when PPE became available.-Dentists in Vic
Dentists are open in Vic. The emergency provisions were reversed in late April.-Jenny
The link you posted is for dental surgery not general dental e.g. checkups, fillings. Vic dentists are open. I was meant to have my wisdom teeth removed early April and my surgery has finally been rescheduled for July. Yay for dentists! (2020 what have I become)-Mel
Thanks team, I knew I could count on you.
My message to Dental Health Services Victoria, update your website. Thanks.  
44mminutes agoBy Simon Smale
Bowling is back!
Look, I’m not saying that we’re scraping the barrel in terms of sporting entertainment but ten-pin bowling will join PGA golf, NASCAR and UFC in bringing competition back to a sports-starved America this weekend when the professional league holds its virtual draft.Over 50 elite, draft-eligible professional bowlers will vie for 26 spots on 10 teams across the country, including two new Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) teams in Las Vegas and Milwaukee.
Bowling fans will be able to watch a livestreamed broadcast of the draft on FloSports on Sunday.”The PBA League Draft will be a great diversion for our fans hungry for bowling action,” PBA commissioner Tom Clark told Reuters.
.  
I shouldn’t mock, particularly with Aussie Jason Belmonte recently being crowned as PBA World Champion his 13th major title.
He had to do that at home in Las Vegas in March, with the disappointment of not being able to compete in front of spectators being countered by the fact he was able to bowl in front of his family for the first time.
Belmonte’s has been protected in the draft by the L.A. X, but with Belmonte back in Orange and uncertain of when he will be able to travel again, the Aussie champion is uncertain as to whether he will be able to compete.
57mminutes agoBy Simon Smale
Are dentists open?
Hi Simon, thanks for the blog. I cant imagine a day without it. Are dentists allowed to open again in VIC yet? Thanks-Anne Tran
Morning Anne, you’re most welcome. Glad to be able to provide you with some information on a daily basis. 
The Dental Health Services Victoria website says that: “All non-urgent public dental procedures across Victoria will be placed on hold until July to limit the spread of coronavirus and to protect patients and staff.”
The website goes on to say that emergency treatment will remain available at The Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne (RDHM) and selected community-based dental services across Victoria.
All the details can be found at that website.
During the pandemic, when some do not have access to their regular dentist, practitioners are saying that you should be stepping up your oral hygiene and to ignore the treats in the pantry.
When will libraries reopen?
Any talk of local libraries opening? No need to sit at desks but just to find a couple of books and leave.-Lyn
So, as a fellow bookworm, I go empathise with you.
In the Federal roadmap, libraries were listed in stage one, but in NSW at least, libraries have remained closed.
The state opposition leader Jodi McKay told the Sydney Morning Herald, “Public libraries are an important part of the learning environment, particularly when many schools do not have adequate library facilities.”
“With appropriate health measures in place there is no reason they shouldn’t be reopening especially given national cabinet provisions already allow for that and every other state and territory is reopening libraries.”
Libraries will open in a staged manner in Queensland this week, with other territories and states following suit. Victorian libraries are open, but only for small public meetings.
However, all is not lost. 
Mismatch of numbers
Good morning Simon. Mate Im having trouble matching up the death figures for Qld and NSW. The charts show 4 and 47 respectively whereas the blog shows 6 and 45. Can you put me on the right track? Thanks.-Reg
Good morning Reg, thanks for getting in touch.
This is down to an accountancy issue. Our figures had two deaths that were initially attributed to Queensland, but they were later given to NSW by the Government. We kept them as Queensland figures and never transferred them over in our stats.
We did not want to over-complicate things, but it’s just a relic of our stat-taking.
Rockhampton aged care home outbreak
Good morning Simon, will the residents and staff at the Rockhampton get retested and is there a chance that they could test positive after they get retested. I am just a bit worried that they could get tested positive after a couple of days, when they might show symptoms.-Archie
I’m not sure of the exact regime of testing that will be employed up in central Queensland in relation to this case, although Queensland’s Deputy Premier and Health Minister Steven Miles said yesterday that “people, everybody, including the residents, their families, the staff, the entire Rockhampton community, should rest assured that we are taking the risks here very, very seriously.”
As for getting tested, I’m assuming the residents will be being monitored very closely for any sign of infection.
2hhours agoBy Simon Smale
Happy Sunday morning everyone!
Morning Simon! Didnt you get the early shift yesterday? That rough! Actually I think you might have kids at home so maybe youre awake anyway- thats why Im awake at 7 on a Sunday. Happy Sunday to you! May tomorrow bring a sleep in.-Amy
Hi Amy, thanks for your concern but you’re right, lie ins are a distant memory of an easier time… I hope you have a fun morning!
Hi SimonThanks for putting in an early Sunday shift to keep us informed and entertainedSo strange are the times we live in – I bet you never thought your job would include providing comprehensive coverage of the German Bundeslige !!-Andy
Not a problem at all Andy, happy to help.
2hhours agoBy Simon Smale
2hhours agoBy Simon Smale
Bundesliga restarts in empty stadiums
Germany’s Bunesliga restarted in empty stadiums overnight, the first major European football league to do so since the coroanvirus outbreak forced a suspension of the season on March 11
Dortmund beat Schalke 4-0 in the first Ruhr derby to be played in an empty stadium. Calls and shouts from coaching staff and players, and the thud of the sanitized ball being kicked, reverberated around the mainly deserted stands.
                 Players had been warned to keep their emotions in check, and to desist from spitting, handshakes and hugging with the games keenly watched by the rest of the football world hoping to restart their own leagues.
                Team staff, and players who didnt start, wore masks. Substitutes took their positions in the stands, rather than beside the field, while balls and seats were disinfected.
Its hard, midfielder Julian Brandt said. But thats the way it is now. We try to stick to the rules.
It felt strange, also for the players. You could see that with the celebrations, Dortmund team coordinator Sebastian Kehl said.
          Dortmunds players celebrated their victory in front of the Westfalenstadions south terrace, where normally the clubs Yellow Wall of almost 25,000 fervent fans would be standing.
                The games authorities were keen to restart the countrys top two divisions with several clubs, including Schalke, facing severe financial difficulties because of the suspension in play.
                Numerous polls showed a growing majority in Germany were against the resumption of the leagues. Fans are also critical.
                Football without fans is nothing, read a joint statement from several Bayern Munich fan groups after the league decided on May 7 to resume.
           There was criticism too from players over health concerns and the threat of injury with games now packed into a tight schedule.
                    Players and staff have been subjected to regular testing for COVID-19. Three cases were found at Koln, while second-division Dynamo Dresden was ordered into 14 days of quarantine after two more positive results brought its total to three last Saturday.
Dresdens game against Hannover on Sunday was called off, and the team cannot train during the quarantine period.
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