Just 17 unique cases of coronavirus have been detected through the Federal Government’s much-maligned $2 million COVIDSafe app, despite it being downloaded by seven million Australians.

Furthermore, the app was of no help during Melbourne’s long-running battle to contain a second wave of the pandemic it appears, with all 17 of the identified cases in NSW.

The data was unveiled during a Budget Estimates hearing on Monday.

According to the deputy Labor leader in the senate and former NSW Premier Kristina Keneally (who wrongly claimed just 14 cases had been found) the app, which was launched in late April, hadn’t picked up any cases since 29 September.