Prime Minister Scott Morrison has nominated getting students back in classrooms as a top priority for a meeting of federal and state leaders.
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National cabinet is meeting on Friday to consider the way forward in the coronavirus crisis, with schools a headline issue.
"My priorities are to get kids back to school, to get people back to work. That's what my priority is," Mr Morrison said.
Senior cabinet minister Peter Dutton said the medical advice is clear that it's safe for to return to classrooms.
He took aim at teachers' unions for opposing boosting student attendances.
"In my home state of Queensland, the teachers' union has their hands firmly around the throat of the government," Mr Dutton told Nine's Today on Friday.
He said schools would be safe if teachers aged 60 and above and sick children were excluded.
"Let's have an environment where kids can learn again because otherwise they're going to miss out on a year of their life and it's unnecessary for that to happen."
Deputy Labor leader Richard Marles said the federal government needed to stop being inconsistent around schools.
"For parents around Australia who are hearing different messages from prime minister to premier to school principal, it's an extremely confusing time," he told Nine.
Australia's coronavirus toll rose to 77 on Friday after the death of an elderly woman in Tasmania.
More than 5000 of the 6661 infected people have recovered.
The average daily rise in cases over the past three days is at 0.2 per cent, with just 12 cases detected over the past 24 hours.
National cabinet will also examine the latest Australian coronavirus modelling as leaders weigh up lifting some restrictions next month.
Deputy chief medical officer Nick Coatsworth has warned allowing large gatherings including sport and weddings is still some way off.
International border restrictions will be the last measure eased, with the issue unlikely to be considered for three to four months.
Legislation to put privacy safeguards on a coronavirus tracing app is expected to be introduced when federal parliament meets between May 12 and 14.
The Morrison government has fired a warning shot to the big four banks over concerns bridging finance is not being provided to businesses waiting for JobKeeper payments.
More than 900,000 businesses have registered their interest for the wage subsidy scheme, with 275,000 formal applications.
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann has ruled out increasing taxes as part of the economic recovery effort.
"Tax increases are off the table because you don't want to make it harder for business to be successful," he told Sky News on Friday.
Health Minister Greg Hunt on Friday announced a $6 million funding boost for online drug and alcohol services.
Australian Associated Press
