25 October 2021
PDF version [272 KB]
Kelsey Campbell
and Dr Emma Vines
Social Policy
As the COVID-19 pandemic has unfolded, resources have been
produced by parliamentary libraries, the Australian, state and territory
governments, as well as non-government organisations tracking government
decisions and restrictions. In addition, the Australian, state and territory
governments continue to publish updates and media releases on their websites
relating to COVID-19. This quick guide brings together many of these resources;
however, the changing nature of the pandemic means these continue to be
supplemented and revised. The hyperlinks in this quick guide were correct as at
October 2021.
Parliamentary Library publications
The Parliamentary Library has produced a number of
publications on topics relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic. These can be found at
the COVID-19
publications and resources page, which continues to be updated.
This includes publications on the
legislative basis for government actions (for example, human biosecurity
declarations); government announcements; explanations of various forms of
government support; the impact of the pandemic on the labour market, and
particular population groups such as people with disabilities, the aged, Indigenous
Australians and international students; and the impact internationally.
State Parliamentary Library publications
The following resources have been produced by the New South Wales
and Victorian parliamentary libraries. This list should not be considered
exhaustive as new publications continue to be released, including papers on
measures related to the pandemic, such as JobSeeker.
New South Wales
Victoria
Australian Government resources
State and territory government resources
The resources below focus on providing links to announcements
from state and territory leaders, health ministers and health departments
related to COVID-19. This is not exhaustive; as additional portfolios may make
COVID-19 related announcements, for example, Treasury or small business on
economic supports, education ministers on school-related announcements.
Australian Capital Territory
New South Wales
- New South Wales
Government COVID-19 website: includes vaccination numbers, latest news,
COVID-19 statistics and links to information about rules and restrictions,
vaccination bookings and testing.
- Minister
for Health’s media releases: media releases from the Minister for Health by
year. Not all statements relate to COVID-19.
- New South
Wales Health media releases: list of media releases by year from NSW
Health. Includes daily media releases on COVID-19 statistics, stay-at-home
order announcements, public health alerts and other COVID-19 related
announcements.
- Premier and
Deputy Premier’s media releases: media releases from the Premier and Deputy
Premier, Minister of State, Minister for Digital and Customer Service, and
Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation. Search ‘COVID’ to locate
relevant announcements.
Northern Territory
Queensland
South Australia
Tasmania
Victoria
Western Australia
Non-government resources
- COVID-19:
Government assistance programs: published by KPMG, this resource is
current as at 20 October 2021 and lists grants from the Australian and state
and territory governments to support private, mid-market and family businesses
affected by COVID-19.
- COVID Local: tracks past
and current COVID-19 policies internationally, including Australia at the
country-wide and state and territory levels. Includes policies on distancing,
travel restrictions, relief measures, emergency declarations, contract tracing
and testing and support for public health. Australian data can be accessed
through the ‘search for location’ option.
- Grattan
Coronavirus Announcements Tracker: Commonwealth and state and territory
announcements containing new and total case counters and announcements on
borders, health, welfare, spatial distancing, businesses, schools and
Indigenous Australians. The tracker was last updated on 4 December 2020.
- International
Monetary Fund—Policy Responses to COVID-19: policy tracker for 197 countries
(including Australia) which summarises the key economic responses of government
to limit the human and economic impact of COVID-19. The tracker was last
updated on 2 July 2021.
- University
of Oxford—COVID-19 Government Response Tracker: directory of policy trackers and surveys related to
COVID-19, both of which are searchable by policy area, country and date.
For copyright reasons some linked items are only available to members of Parliament.
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