Have you downloaded the coronavirus tracing app?
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It's a question asked around the nation, and so far, more than two million Australians have opted in and voluntarily downloaded the COVIDsafe app, which will record anyone who has spent more than 15 minutes within 1.5 metres of a person who tests positive for the virus.
People who oppose the app cite the government's history of metadata harvesting, raids on media offices and the homes of journalists, and of proposals to allow security agencies to spy on Australians without their knowledge or consent as reasons not to accept the government's invitation.
Those in support made the point that "you've got nothing to fear if you've got nothing to hide" and that if it can help get us out of isolation quicker, and more importantly save lives, then why wouldn't you download it?
For approximately six months now, we have all described the events that have changed our society so dramatically and so rapidly as "unprecedented", and the introduction of a voluntary app as the latest weapon to help stop the spread of COVID-19 is just one more first for our country in these turbulent times.
It's understandable people may be cynical that the app could serve as a Trojan horse, pioneering technology that could allow future governments to monitor their citizens' every move. And at the same time, supporters should exercise caution as the app, along with mass testing, won't serve as a silver bullet to this crisis.
Government Services Minister Stuart Robert says the app isn't designed to collect location information and that it will "not be used by the Commonwealth for any purpose at all. It's only there for state health to use".
While the number of Australians diagnosed with COVID-19 is incredibly low compared to most other nations, we risk all this good work by relaxing restrictions too hastily.
Regardless of what new tools are too hand, it would be prudent for the authorities to wait until there have been many more weeks of near zero new cases before restrictions change too much.