COVID-19 Civic Freedom Tracker
Keep Civic Space Healthy
This tracker monitors government responses to the pandemic that affect civic freedoms and human rights, focusing on emergency laws. For information about our methodology, click here.
For more information and analysis by region, click here.
The COVID-19 Civic Freedom Tracker is a collaborative effort by the ICNL, ECNL, and our global network of partners, with generous research support from the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Fionnuala D. Ní Aoláin. This is an ongoing effort, and we welcome you to email us at adeblock@icnl.org and simona@ecnl.org to share additional resources.
Emergency Management Amendment (COVID-19 Response) Act
The act amends Western Australia's Emergency Management Act of 2005, allowing the government to install surveillance devices in homes and direct people to wear monitoring devices, in order to ensure that those required to isolate during the coronavirus crisis do not interact with the community. Persons who fail to comply are subject to a $12,000 fine or up to a year of imprisonment.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 3 Apr 2020
Issue(s): Surveillance, Privacy
Type: law
"Snap" Lockdowns
Authorities of New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia have imposed multiple "snap" lockdowns ranging from three days to a week to contain the outbreak.
Introduced 8 Jan 2021 Ongoing
Issue(s): Movement
Type: order
Mandatory Electronic Check-Ins
The New South Wales government imposed mandatory electronic check-in systems for businesses, venues and events. Personal information of visitors (including name, phone, and email address) must be collected electronically by using a QR code or on a digital file. It is mandatory for businesses to use, and the consequences for non-compliance are a $5k fine and forced closure of 1 week - 1 month. The information is uploaded to a government database and is deleted after 28 days. Local authorities banned police from accessing the data.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 11 Nov 2020
Issue(s): Surveillance, Privacy
Type: order
State of Disaster Lockdown Order
On August 2, the Premier of Victoria announced a State of Disaster in regional Victoria. Movement restrictions were imposed on the region, prohibiting residents from leaving their homes for any reason other than shopping for food and essential items, care and caregiving, daily exercise, work and study that could not be done from home, or personal safety.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 2 Aug 2020
Issue(s): Assembly, Emergency, Movement
Type: order
Public Health (COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement) Order 2020
The order by New South Wales requires individuals to stay in their place of residence absence a reasonable excuse, and prohibits public gatherings of more than two people. Exceptions include gatherings of members of the same household, and gatherings essential for work or education.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 30 Mar 2020
Issue(s): Assembly, Movement
Type: order
Direction under Section 16 of the Public Health Act 1997
The order declares a "state of emergency" in Tasmania and among other things prohibits all gatherings of three or more people, with limited exceptions, in order to combat the spread of Covid-19.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 30 Mar 2020
Issue(s): Assembly, Emergency
Type: order
Biosecurity (Human Biosecurity Emergency) (Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential) Declaration 2020
The Governor-General declares a "human biosecurity emergency," on account of the coronavirus. The declaration gives the Minister for Health expansive powers to issue directions and set requirements in order to combat the outbreak. The declaration was issued under Article 475 of the Biosecurity Act 2015, the first time these powers under the Act have been used.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 18 Mar 2020 Extended until 9/17/2021
Issue(s): Emergency
Type: order
State of Emergency
The Premier and Minister of Health declare a 4-week "state of emergency" in the state of Victoria, to combat Covid-19.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 16 Mar 2020
Issue(s): Emergency
Type: order
State of Emergency
The Minister of Emergency Services declares a "state of emergency" in Western Australia, on account of Covid-19.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 15 Mar 2020
Issue(s): Emergency
Type: order
Emergency Management (Gatherings) (COVID-19) Direction 2020
The order by South Australia's government prohibits gatherings of more than 10 persons, or fewer than 10 if social distance is not maintained. The prohibition applies to public and private, indoor and outdoor spaces, and includes limited exceptions for essential businesses and health care facilities, among others.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 2 Mar 2020
Issue(s): Assembly
Type: order
State of Public Health Emergency
The Premier of Queensland declares a "public health emergency."
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 29 Jan 2020
Issue(s): Emergency
Type: order
Military Enforcement of State of Disaster
The premier announced that military personnel would be deployed to enforce the curfew and that breaches of curfew could be punished with fines of up to 20,000 Australian dollars (US $14,250).
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 4 Aug 2020
Issue(s): Assembly, Movement, Militarization
Type: practice
Protesters Arrested and Fined for Violating COVID-19 Measures
In June 2020, police fined Black Lives Matter protest leaders $1,652 each in Melbourne for organizing a public rally focused on the abuse and death of Indigenous detainees that they claimed violated social distancing restrictions. The Supreme Court ruled for a police prohibition on Black Lives Matter protests in Sydney in July 2020 and in the ensuing weeks, police arrested and fined six attendees $1,000 each for not abiding by the ban. In September 2020, police arrested and fined students $1000 each at Sydney University for protesting against university cutbacks and layoffs (despite protester measures to abide by the COVID-19 restrictions in place).
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 6 Jun 2020
Issue(s): Assembly
Type: practice