Australia

Australia’s first case of COVID-19 was discovered on 25 January 2020. The government began to restrict international travel on 1 February, and imposed escalating social distancing measures, requiring many businesses and services to close in late March. These measures are expected to be in place for six months. The Australian government has adopted a strategy of containing the spread of COVID-19 and mitigating its impact on the country’s healthcare system. Australia is a federation of states, which have each adopted different policies to respond to the pandemic. COVID-19 Policy Watch currently covers national policies only.

Key statistics

  • Confirmed cases

    6,980

  • Cases per 100,000 people

    27.20

  • Deaths

    98

  • Recovered cases

    6,270

  • Days since first case

    108

  • Days since 100 cases

    64

  • Days since highest daily increase

    46

These statistics were last updated for 15 May 2020 and are drawn from the Coronavirus COVID-19 Daily Cases dataset, published by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at John Hopkins University, via API by Laeyoung.

Australian Federal Government COVID-19 policies

Last updated 23 April 2020

Healthcare

Testing and tracing

01 May 2020
Launched a tracking and tracking app
24 April 2020
Expanded testing criteria to include all people with mild symptoms of COVID-19
26 March 2020
Expanded national minimum testing criteria

Health services

21 April 2020
Eased restrictions on elective surgery
29 March 2020
Increased funding to mental health services
29 March 2020
Expanded funding to Medicare telehealth services and to the GP bulk billing incentive
27 March 2020
Increased the level of support provided by the Australian Defence Force
26 March 2020
Approved the temporary suspension of all semi-urgent elective surgery
25 March 2020
Suspended non-urgent elective surgeries across public and private health systems

Research

14 April 2020
Funded COVID-19 testing and treatment research projects

Medical products and medicines

19 March 2020
Limited the amount of prescription medicine people can buy at once

Movement of people

Physical distancing

24 April 2020
Prohobited aged care facilities from implementing restrictions beyond those imposed by government
03 April 2020
Allowed churches and other places of worship to live stream services
30 March 2020
Advised that risk assessments are necessary if vulnerable workers do essential work
29 March 2020
Limited most public gatherings to two people and closed outdoor recreation facilities
27 March 2020
Advised that social distancing measures will be in place for at least six months
25 March 2020
Heightened social distancing measures, including additional prohibited activities
22 March 2020
Restricted social gatherings, including closure of ‘non-essential’ facilities
20 March 2020
Introduced restrictions to non-essential events

Border measures

27 March 2020
Required all returning travellers to self-isolate at designated facilities for 14 days
20 March 2020
Closed the international border except to citizens and permanent residents

Domestic travel

26 March 2020
Restricted movement into certain remote areas

Citizens abroad

24 March 2020
Announced an international ‘do not travel’ ban

Households

Wage and income support

24 April 2020
Extended the exemption on obligations for people receiving unemployment benefit
30 March 2020
Introduced wage subsidy
22 March 2020
Allowed temporary access to superannuation, and reduced drawdown rates
22 March 2020
Provided second payment to pensioners, beneficiaries, veterans and people on health-care cards
22 March 2020
Increased income support payments
12 March 2020
Reduced social security deeming rates
12 March 2020
Provided one-off payment to pensioners, beneficiaries, veterans and people on healthcare cards
11 March 2020
Established a wage subsidy for apprentices and trainees

Food and necessities

09 April 2020
Introduced principles for hardship support by state governments
29 March 2020
Increased funding for emergency relief services for vulnerable Australians
20 March 2020
Established Supermarkets Taskforce

Housing

29 March 2020
Introduced a 6-month ban on rental evictions

Economy

Industry interventions

16 April 2020
Guaranteed certain domestic flights
12 April 2020
Provided tax relief to higher education institutions
20 March 2020
Introduced a range of measures to support the aged care workforce
12 March 2020
Established relief fund for tourism, education and agriculture industries

Business support

09 April 2020
Introduced principles for hardship support by state governments
03 April 2020
Began developing a mandatory code of conduct for commercial leases
30 March 2020
Introduced wage subsidy
22 March 2020
Expanded cash grants for small businesses and not-for-profits
22 March 2020
Guaranteed bank loans to small to medium businesses
22 March 2020
Limited business liquidations and director liability for trading while insolvent
11 March 2020
Established a wage subsidy for apprentices and trainees
11 March 2020
Relaxed tax rules for business assets

Financial markets and monetary policy

29 March 2020
Tightened foreign investment rules
19 March 2020
Began purchase of government bonds by the central bank
19 March 2020
Reduced official cash rate to 0.25 percent

Government

Education

12 April 2020
Provided tax relief to higher education institutions

Emergency government

06 April 2020
Shifted responsibility for public services to the Minister for Health
25 March 2020
Established a dedicated COVID-19 commission to advise government on all non-health aspects of the pandemic response
23 March 2020
Suspended sitting of federal parliament

Public services

02 April 2020
Introduced funding for free early child care for some families
29 March 2020
Provided funding for domestic violence support
29 March 2020
Increased funding for emergency relief services for vulnerable Australians
20 March 2020
Introduced a range of measures to support the aged care workforce

Public information

29 March 2020
Launched COVID-19 mobile app and WhatsApp channel
25 March 2020
Established a dedicated COVID-19 commission to advise government on all non-health aspects of the pandemic response

Policing and justice

27 March 2020
Increased the level of support provided by the Australian Defence Force
20 March 2020
Restructured personal prison visits

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