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| Australia coronavirus update latest: government launches Covidsafe contact tracing app, as WA and Queensland announce plans to relax curbs – live news | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Health minister Greg Hunt says app ‘will save lives and protect lives’, while Western Australia easing of restrictions to begin tomorrow and Queensland from midnight Friday. Follow live | Health minister Greg Hunt says app ‘will save lives and protect lives’, while Western Australia easing of restrictions to begin tomorrow and Queensland from midnight Friday. Follow live |
| The RACGP’s president Dr Harry Nespolon has issued this statement urging people to download the app. | |
| The Office of the Information Commissioner has issued this statement on the Covidsafe app. | |
| A statement just in from Human Rights Law Centre, Digital Rights Watch and the Australia Institute. | A statement just in from Human Rights Law Centre, Digital Rights Watch and the Australia Institute. |
| The government must publish the source code not only of the app, but for the entire system at the government’s end (both state and federal); | The government must publish the source code not only of the app, but for the entire system at the government’s end (both state and federal); |
| The government should provide for independent oversight and mandatory public reporting of all uses of the data; | The government should provide for independent oversight and mandatory public reporting of all uses of the data; |
| The government should, by legislation, eliminate the possibility of police and intelligence agencies using their anti-encryption powers, to use the app to access any information on a person’s phone. | The government should, by legislation, eliminate the possibility of police and intelligence agencies using their anti-encryption powers, to use the app to access any information on a person’s phone. |
| Alice Drury, senior lawyer at the Human Rights Law Centre, said: | Alice Drury, senior lawyer at the Human Rights Law Centre, said: |
| Lizzie O’Shea, Digital Rights Watch, said: | Lizzie O’Shea, Digital Rights Watch, said: |
| Peter Lewis, The Australia Institute’s Centre for Responsible Technology, said: | Peter Lewis, The Australia Institute’s Centre for Responsible Technology, said: |
| Here is my colleague Amy Remeikis’ news story about the launch of the Covidsafe app. | Here is my colleague Amy Remeikis’ news story about the launch of the Covidsafe app. |
| There are already complaints from quite a few people that they can’t register in the app. | There are already complaints from quite a few people that they can’t register in the app. |
| My understanding is that the government has said registrations will open at 6pm – however this certainly could have been more clearly emphasised. | My understanding is that the government has said registrations will open at 6pm – however this certainly could have been more clearly emphasised. |
| Here are some screenshots from the app. You can’t register until 6pm. | Here are some screenshots from the app. You can’t register until 6pm. |
| The Business Council of Australia says of the app: | The Business Council of Australia says of the app: |
| The press conference has now wrapped up. | The press conference has now wrapped up. |
| The government says the app will go live at 6pm, when people will be able to register. | The government says the app will go live at 6pm, when people will be able to register. |
| A few people have pointed out that the app is available only on the Australian versions of the Apple and Google Play stores. | A few people have pointed out that the app is available only on the Australian versions of the Apple and Google Play stores. |
| Meanwhile, see below. | Meanwhile, see below. |
| Greg Hunt is asked about reports the government is considering travel exemptions to allow the T-20 World Cup to continue. | Greg Hunt is asked about reports the government is considering travel exemptions to allow the T-20 World Cup to continue. |
| Hunt says he’s not been involved in any discussion so can’t comment. | Hunt says he’s not been involved in any discussion so can’t comment. |
| Murphy says the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee will later this week consider some proposals from major sporting codes to “consider what would be the parameters upon which the national cabinet may feel it is safe to let them recommence crowd three matches”. | Murphy says the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee will later this week consider some proposals from major sporting codes to “consider what would be the parameters upon which the national cabinet may feel it is safe to let them recommence crowd three matches”. |
| “There is a long way to go. We have not seen the proposals yet.” | “There is a long way to go. We have not seen the proposals yet.” |
| Murphy is asked about the Australian government’s position on so-called “immunity passports”. | Murphy is asked about the Australian government’s position on so-called “immunity passports”. |
| The WHO has warned against these, saying there is no conclusive evidence people cannot contract the virus more than once. | The WHO has warned against these, saying there is no conclusive evidence people cannot contract the virus more than once. |
| He says: | He says: |
| Hunt was also asked what would happen if people could be busted breaking social distancing laws through the app. | Hunt was also asked what would happen if people could be busted breaking social distancing laws through the app. |
| Hunt is unequivocal on this: | Hunt is unequivocal on this: |
| Hunt is asked about what reporter Samantha Maiden describes as some “teething problems” with the app. There have been suggestions, for example, that if you have too many apps open, or if your screen is locked, the strength of the Covidsafe app will be diminished. | Hunt is asked about what reporter Samantha Maiden describes as some “teething problems” with the app. There have been suggestions, for example, that if you have too many apps open, or if your screen is locked, the strength of the Covidsafe app will be diminished. |
| Hunt extolling the privacy safeguards, as he sees them: | Hunt extolling the privacy safeguards, as he sees them: |
| Brendan Murphy says he would define a “good uptake” of the app as “well over half the people”, and adds that he thinks “Australians will rise to the challenge”. | Brendan Murphy says he would define a “good uptake” of the app as “well over half the people”, and adds that he thinks “Australians will rise to the challenge”. |
| Greg Hunt is asked if it matters whether people use a fake name when they register on the app. He says: | Greg Hunt is asked if it matters whether people use a fake name when they register on the app. He says: |
| While you’re hearing (or reading) the government’s line on the app, I might point you to this piece from my colleague Josh Taylor. | While you’re hearing (or reading) the government’s line on the app, I might point you to this piece from my colleague Josh Taylor. |