Government Services Minister Stuart Robert has promised to undertake a privacy assessment and publish the Australian app's code to allay fears surrounding the scheme.

The research centre, which IS partially government-funded, has already been reviewing the Australian version and, so far, it has no major concerns about the app.

"I'm pleased with what I've seen to date," the centre's chief executive officer, Rachael Falk, said. "There's very little private data obtained."

Parkes MP Mark Coulton, who announced a multi-million dollar funding boost for the Royal Flying Doctor Service today, was one of Barnaby Joyce's colleague's who publicly disputed the the former deputy PM's view.

"Barnaby is entitled to his own opinion, but I don't share his views," Mr Coulton said. "When the time comes, I think it will be this week some time, I'll be more than prepared to sign up to it.

Meanwhile fears in Mr Joyce's home turf of New England staff at a government department office have been ordered into isolation after fears they were exposed to coronavirus at work.

More than 15 staff at the Armidale Community Services Centre have been forced to self-isolate while they nervously await COVID-19 test results.

It comes after two child protection workers tested positive to the potentially deadly virus on Friday and are receiving medical treatment.

While Victoria debates relaxing its coronavirus restrictions to allow golf, modelling suggests the state could have had up to 36,000 deaths without social distancing.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the national cabinet of state and federal leaders will have a discussion on Tuesday about some of the prerequisites for relaxing any of the rules in place.

At that national cabinet meeting discussion is also expected to turn to opening up some elective surgery lists again.

To help hospitals deal with coronavirus cases, elective surgeries other than the most urgent procedures have been put on hold. All category three and most category two surgeries were suspended from last month.

Australia's deputy chief medical officer Nick Coatsworth says a good approach is for low-risk surgeries with high benefits for patients to be considered first.

A similar concern exists in COVID-19 hit Tasmania where a health union says PPE is still being rationed for workers at Tasmanian hospitals.

On the good news front, Australia's regional areas have been nominated as the nation's "engine room" to lead the nation in its economic recovery from the pandemic.

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