The AAP notes that "Australia's first.....>

AUSTRALIA: The AAP notes that "Australia's first tentative steps to lifting

coronavirus restrictions will send a quarter of a million people back to their

jobs and add more than $3 billion to the economy. Treasury estimates that by the

time all states reach the third stage of the progressive reopening, roughly in

July, the economy will be growing by $9.4 billion a month. Under that third

stage, people will be allowed to gather in groups of up to 100 and most

businesses should be able to reopen. The government estimates this will bring

more than 850,000 Australians back to work than at present. This figure includes

people who have been stood down but are receiving the JobKeeper wage subsidy,

who aren't counted among official unemployment estimates. Treasurer Josh

Frydenberg will detail the boost to each state in an economic statement to

parliament on Tuesday. But he will warn going backwards on restrictions if the

virus starts to spread again will cost NSW $1.4 billion, Victoria $1 billion and

Queensland $800,000 a week. He will also reflect on the sobering data counting

the economic impact of the virus."