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The Australian Electoral Commission has confirmed all people currently isolating with COVID-19 will be able to vote in tomorrow's federal election after it recommended a change to telephone polling eligibility following complaints from candidates and voters.

The AEC confirmed over-the-phone voting would be extended to people who have tested positive for COVID-19 since Friday, May 13.

Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers said every registered Australian would be able to access their vote, despite their isolation requirements.

READ MORE: Where to vote and your other election questions answered

"With many jurisdictions internationally not offering voting services for COVID-positive voters during the pandemic, we're proud to be delivering the combination of safe and secure voting services for all voters," Rogers said.

"We heard from community members who did not apply for a postal vote before the deadline, we acted to extend the phone voting service and all COVID-positive voters can vote in the election."

People who are unable to attend voting stations due to having COVID-19 can register for a phone ballot through the AEC website.

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The loophole in the original regulations could have seen thousands of COVID-positive voters left unable to cast their ballot

Originally, only people who tested positive to COVID-19 after 6pm on Tuesday this week could be eligible for phone voting.

People who tested positive to the virus before that deadline, but did not register for a postal vote before applications closed on 6pm this Wednesday, would be unable to cast a phone ballot.

This meant potentially thousands of voters could be left in isolation on Saturday with no way of participating in the democratic process.

The federal government confirmed today it would back the AEC's recommendation to extend phone voting eligibility less than 24 hours before polls open tomorrow.

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The recommendation came after the independent candidate for Kooyong, Monique Ryan, announced last night she would launch a legal challenge against Special Minister for State Ben Morton to ensure COVID-positive Australians were not shut out of voting.

Ryan raised over $125,000 to fund that action, and said earlier today her campaign would offer a refund of all "unspent" funds to donors as soon as possible.

"Some donors have indicated that they don't want refunds. In that event, we will donate any remaining funds to a charitable legal advocacy fund to keep fighting for all Australians' ability to vote," she said.

"We have shared this information with all the donors to our legal fund and will be contacting them to discuss their options within the next few days."

• READ MORE: Where to find your democracy sausage on election day 2022
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A Queensland community has worked to save the life of a beached dwarf minke whale which became trapped on the shores of Hervey Bay this morning.

Locals gathered by the injured whale, with video footage capturing ongoing community efforts to save it.

The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service was called to the whale's location around 6.15am, as locals with buckets poured sea water on the animal.

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Representatives from the department and marine specialists confirmed the whale was healthy, as rangers worked to move the whale back to sea.

The task was made more challenging by the conditions of the tide, however four hours and two attempts later, rangers and lifeguards were able to pull the whale back into the ocean.

"The tide is coming in now, which means our team is attempting to guide the whale into deeper waters," a Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service spokesperson said.

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Locals were advised to keep away from the area in a bid to keep the whale calm.

At 10am, the whale was successfully returned to the ocean with only superficial wounds.

Police, surf lifesavers and whale watchers have all been thanked by wildlife experts for their efforts returning the whale to safety, with hopes it will survive.

The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service said it's unclear how the minke whale became beached.

"Strandings can happen for many different reasons including misadventure and poor health, and can occur anywhere along the Queensland coast," it said.

Hervey Bay is a renowned whale watching spot, with an estimated 1200 humpback whales stopping to seek shelter in the bay's warm waters during their annual migration down Australia's east coast.

The man accused of killing nine-year-old Charlise Mutton while the schoolgirl was holidaying in the Blue Mountains has faced court over a string of fresh charges.

Justin Stein, 31, has been in custody since his arrest in January and maintains he didn't kill the little girl.

Stein was charged with eight additional offences and appeared at Penrith Local Court today.

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These charges include possessing an unauthorised and unregistered firearm, possessing ammunition without a licence, and aggravated break and enter in company.

Police allege Stein broke into a neighbour's property at Mount Wilson with another person last August and stole two rifles which are not linked to the alleged murder of Charlise.

Stein has also been charged with possessing two videos containing child abuse material, also unrelated to Charlise.

Police are continuing to investigate Charlise's alleged murder.

The nine-year-old was reported missing after holidaying at Stein's family estate in Mount Wilson on January 14.

Her body was found in a barrel on the banks of the Colo River, in the Central Tablelands, on Tuesday 18 January.

The case will return to court in July.

The parents of a boy who was hit and killed by a distracted driver in Melbourne's east have said they forgive the man responsible, moments after he avoided jail.

Zhou Lu's moment of inattention behind the wheel led to catastrophic consequences for Jack Power and his family on a dark, wet night in August 2018.

Jack, 10, was killed when he, his sister Stephanie, six, and another young girl were walking across Springfield Road in Blackburn North on a green pedestrian light.

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Lu did not notice that the traffic light had turned red and pressed the brakes too late, leading to his van hitting Jack.

The Croydon Hills Primary student later died in hospital.

Lu pleaded guilty to the charge of dangerous driving causing death in the County Court of Victoria, sparing Jack's sister from giving evidence at trial.

Lu was today sentenced to a three-year community corrections order.

The judge noted on the night of the tragedy, Lu was not driving while fatigued, on drugs or alcohol, using his phone or speeding.

Speaking after court, Jack's parents said the sentence was fair, and that they forgave Lu.

READ MORE: Changes to phone voting officially confirmed

"I totally forgive him because it was an accident," Jack's mother, Bonnie Power, said.

She said Jack was "the perfect child".

Jack's father, Matt Power, said it had been very tough for the family since Jack's death.

"We've missed four birthdays, we've missed him going into high school," he said.

They are channelling their grief into raising awareness about road safety and organ donation.

Matt Power said Jack had helped seven people through organ donation.

"Out of one family's tragedy, we can obviously help other families as well," he said.

Shareholders of Australian gaming giant Crown Resorts have voted in favour of a nearly $9 billion takeover bid by American private equity firm Blackstone.

In a meeting held today an overwhelming 99.91 per cent of the votes cast by shareholders were in favour of the takeover bid, approximately valued at around $8.9 billion.

The deal – which is still subject to regulatory approvals in several states – would see Blackstone become the owner of a casino brand that includes Crown Sydney, Melbourne and Perth in its repertoire of gaming operations.

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It is not expected to be finalised until at least the end of June.

A major issue facing Crown Resorts is the fallout from several state-based investigations that have prevented the business from operating under normal conditions.

It's $2.2 billion casino in Sydney's Barangaroo is yet to be granted a gaming licence, and licences at other premises are under review.

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In a note to shareholders this afternoon Crown said it would work with Blackstone until the matters are resolved.

"Crown will continue to assist Blackstone as it works towards obtaining the required gaming regulatory approvals," the notice reads.

"Crown will announce to the ASX material developments in respect of Blackstone's gaming regulatory approvals and, in due course, the date for the final Court hearing to approve the Scheme."

Crown finished the day's trade up 0.16 per cent to $12.84 following the news.