Australian treasurer Josh Frydenberg criticised Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews' handling of the state's COVID-19 outbreak as the nation's death toll climbed higher.
He also let the opposition know he won't back Labor amendments to Jobkeeper legislation when parliament resumes this week.
"I want to hear more about a message of hope for the people of Victoria," Mr Frydenberg, himself a Victorian, told Sky News..
"Daniel Andrews and the Victorian government need to be talking more about the road out than about a longer road in."
Mr Andrews meanwhile spoke about the downward trend of numbers - which he called promising - but said it was still too early to announce how restrictions will ease come September 13.
Those comments come as Victoria recorded 114 new cases of coronavirus on Sunday while adding another 11 deaths to the national death toll, which now stands at 611.
In NSW a cluster linked to a gym in the Sydney CBD continues to grow. Of the seven new cases diagnosed overnight on Sunday in NSW, five are linked to the fitness hotspot including a close contact of a prior diagnosed member.
Queensland has reported four new COVID-19 cases, all are linked to known outbreaks; Western Australia recorded no new cases overnight but will come down hard on a man who skipped quarantine for a drink at a pub after flying in from Queensland.
But even in these COVID times there are some things you can rely on - with warmer weather comes an increase in snake activity and beach-going.
Snake expert Raymond Hoer, who runs the Melbourne-based Snakebusters, says this year is expected to be a bumper season for snake catching.
"Because people are at home and they're not out and about...we've got a perfect storm where people will see more snakes," he said. "Everyone's gardens look more immaculate than ever, but the flip side is in long grass you won't even see the snakes."
In the more than 40 years he's been running a snake catching business, Mr Hoer said he expected this year to be his busiest. It isn't just snakes who like to catch some sun, though.
The Illawarra Mercury reports that this year's beach season will begin as normal despite the coronavirus restrictions.
Wollongong City Council is investigating how it can enforce social distancing measures on the beach this summer.
More signs will will reinforce social distancing and hygiene messages and the council says it will alert police if health orders are breached.
And as Sydney tasted its warmest day since early May, police were indeed needed as the beaches of the eastern suburbs heaved.
The warmer weather had NSW Health on edge ahead of the weekend, and rightly so, as the eastern suburbs is still an area of concern for community transmission of COVID-19.
In other news to come out of the pandemic, seasonal worker Soares Fatima Oliveria has made a new home away from home in Tasmania after being stuck in the Apple Isle due to coronavirus.
Soares said while he has been away from his home in Timor-Leste for six months due to border restrictions, he has formed a strong bond with the surrounding community.
"This farm is like my family here. I love this farm."
News you need to know
Andrew Brown
I've been part of the Canberra Times since 2016, after reporting at local papers in Sydney's north-west. Since starting at the paper I've had stints on the Sunday Times, on the early morning breaking news round, and now as a general reporter, covering the ins and outs of anything and everything happening in Canberra, with a focus on health.
I've been part of the Canberra Times since 2016, after reporting at local papers in Sydney's north-west. Since starting at the paper I've had stints on the Sunday Times, on the early morning breaking news round, and now as a general reporter, covering the ins and outs of anything and everything happening in Canberra, with a focus on health.
