Common questions about Covid-19

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Commission has provided advice directly to the federal government, various committees, and key organisations to ensure measures to combat COVID-19 protect peoples’ human rights now and advance them in the recovery phase. 

The Commission has developed reports on COVID-19 human rights related issues, including:

• Management of COVID-19 risks in immigration detention (2021)
• Guidelines on the rights of people with disability in health and disability care during COVID-19 
• Impacts of COVID-19 on children and young people who contact Kids Helpline.

Check out our section on COVID-19 and Human Rights. 

Keep up to date with the latest information on the Commission’s work on human rights, including any work we do relating to COVID-19, by signing up to our newsletter.

You can also stay in touch with us on:

• Facebook at www.facebook.com/aushumanrights/
• Twitter at twitter.com/AusHumanRights
• LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/australian-human-rights-commission
• Instagram at www.instagram.com/aushumanrights/

Particularly at the start of the pandemic, the Commission heard reports of discrimination against people of Chinese and other Asian backgrounds. Discrimination on the grounds of race can never be tolerated.

The Commission can investigate incidents of racism or discrimination, but if you have experienced abuse of a violent or criminal nature, you should contact the police.

If you have experienced racism or discrimination, we are ready to assist you. Contact us here. To lodge a complaint, go to humanrights.gov.au/complaints

The Department of Social Services has put together accessible information about COVID-19 and have set up a disability information hotline. Access these resources here. 

An Auslan version of the Government’s COVID-19 accessible resources can be found here.

People with Disability Australia has a COVID-19 Hub dedicated to advocating for the needs and rights of people with disability during the pandemic.

The NDIS has a webpage dedicated to providing COVID-19 information and support which can be found here.

The Department of Social Services has a Disability Information Helpline which provides information and referrals for people with disability who need help because of COVID-19. You can call on 1800 643 787 or visit the website here.

Economic Justice Australia has produced a factsheet on COVID-19 payments for people receiving the Disability Support Pension which can be found here.

Every Australian Counts has a webpage which provides information for NDIS participants and families about the pandemic.

Elder abuse can take various forms, including financial, physical, psychological, emotional, and sexual abuse, or neglect. No older person should be subjected to any form of abuse.

If you are concerned that you are or someone you know is experiencing or is at risk of, or is experiencing, elder abuse, please contact the national free-call helpline on 1800 ELDERHelp (1800 353 374).

Watch our video to learn the signs of elder abuse.

All lives are of equal value irrespective of age and it is important that neither direct nor indirect age discrimination become the unintended consequences of the COVID-19 response.

Should it become necessary to make decisions about the allocation and prioritisation of scarce medical resources, these must be made on the basis of medical and scientific evidence and not on non-medical grounds, such as age or disability. This will support an ethical and more efficient public health response for all affected by this disease.

The requirements of home-isolation if you contract COVID-19 mean that people experiencing domestic and family violence are at greater risk.

If you are experiencing domestic violence and require support, please contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732). If you are in immediate danger, please call 000.

Resources for men include MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978 and the Men's Referral Service on 1300 789 978.

Children who witness or are affected by family violence can contact the Kids Helpline by phoning 1800 55 1800, sending an email or via WebChat.

COVID-19 does not discriminate, but the social and economic impacts will affect men and women differently.

Women make up 79% of health care and social assistance workers, and the majority of pre-primary, primary and secondary school teachers.

The majority of casual workers are women and more women than men already live below the poverty line in Australia.  

Women in Australia continue to undertake an unequal amount of unpaid caring work. Emergency measures mean the amount of unpaid caring work will likely increase yet further. This could make it harder for many women to undertake paid work.

The social and economic impacts of COVID-19 risk exacerbating existing gender inequalities.

Any economic response measures must consider the existing economic inequality of women in Australia.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have higher levels of pre-existing illness than other population groups due to relative social and economic disadvantage. This means they may be susceptible to more severe impacts from COVID-19. In some communities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are also at risk from overcrowded housing, making social distancing and home isolation more difficult.

There have also been concerns about maintaining food security for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living in remote communities during the pandemic.

The Australian Government must continue to make the health, safety, and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders a priority in its ongoing response to COVID-19.

The Department of Health has an up-to-date webpage dedicated to resources on COVID-19 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, which can be found here.

The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) has compiled a series of useful links and resources here.

The Department of Health provides a list of translated COVID-19 resources here.

SBS also has a range of resources on the pandemic in many languages which can be found here.

Please visit the website of your local state or territory health authority to find information on current testing criteria for COVID-19. A number of states and territories have expanded the criteria you must meet before you are able to be tested.

Regardless of the criteria in your state, everyone must be able to access necessary health and medical care.

Vaccines are effective in saving lives. Please visit the website of your local state or territory health authority to find information on how and where you can get vaccinated.

Regardless of the criteria in your state, everyone must be able to access necessary health and medical care. 

More information on COVID-19 Vaccines and human rights is available in the COVID-19 and Human Rights section of our website.

The Department of Health’s ‘Head to Health’ website provides digital mental health resources. This includes a page on mental health and COVID-19 which can be found here.

Beyond Blue has a Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service which includes online forums, online counselling, and telephone counselling. Visit the website or phone 1800 512 345

Additional resources include:

• Suicide Callback Service – 1300 659 467 
• Lifeline – 13 11 44

Along with the resources laid out in the question above, there are services able to support children's mental health during this potentially challenging time.

The Kids Helpline has phone, email and WebChat services. You can call them 24/7 on 1800 55 1800 or contact them here.

Headspace also has resources for young people on how to cope during the pandemic. They can be found here.

Some states and territories have made different rules about what you can and cannot do when emergency health orders are in force, and they are using different methods to enforce those rules, including by giving police new powers. You can find more information about the rules in your state or territory at the following links:

• New South Wales
• Victoria
• Queensland
• Australian Capital Territory
• South Australia
• Western Australia
• Tasmania
• Northern Territory

Regardless of what rules are in place, you have the right to be treated with respect and dignity in all interactions with police.

You have the right not to be discriminated against for any reason, including on the basis of sex, age, race, or disability.

You also have the right to be informed what the police powers are during this time, and to expect they will be applied fairly and consistently. The powers must be proportionate and used by police only to the extent necessary to prevent the virus spreading.

Particularly during times of crisis and when police have been granted increased powers, processes for handling complaints when there is police misconduct must be independent, impartial, timely and must hold police misconduct to account.

You can find more information about where to make a complaint about police misconduct in your state or territory at the links below:

• New South Wales
• Victoria
• Queensland
• Australian Capital Territory
• South Australia
• Western Australia
• Tasmania
• Northern Territory

Adequate physical distancing may not be possible in crowded detention facilities, such as immigration detention facilities, prisons, police lockups and jails. Many people in detention are also vulnerable due to existing chronic health conditions.

The Commission acknowledges the work of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee in providing advice to the Government on the ongoing prevention and management of potential outbreaks of COVID-19 in detention settings.

Public health experts, including the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases (ASID) and the Australian College of Infection Prevention and Control (ACIPC), have advised that an effective response to protect the health of people in immigration detention and the broader community requires the release of people who do not pose significant security or health risks into the community. In March 2020, the Human Rights Commissioner wrote to the Department of Home Affairs to request urgent action to implement this advice.

While people remain in detention, they must have access to adequate healthcare and hygiene facilities.

The Human Rights Commission supports the advice of Australia’s health experts. It is critical that the health and human rights of vulnerable people in detention are protected.

Further information can also be found in the Commission’s Management of COVID-19 risks in immigration detention report.

If you have concerns about your own or someone else’s treatment or conditions in prison or youth justice centres, you can contact the Ombudsman in your state or territory:

• New South Wales
• Victoria
• Queensland
• Australian Capital Territory
• South Australia
• Western Australia
• Tasmania
• Northern Territory

If you have concerns about your own or someone else’s treatment or conditions in detention, please contact us.

People in immigration detention can also contact the Australian Red Cross via the information on their website here.

Some people arriving from overseas are required to quarantine in a hotel for a period of time to help stop the spread of COVID-19, likely if they are not fully vaccinated. Please check the entry requirements for each state and territory for more information. 

Other than restrictions on movement necessary to ensure public health, these arrivals  should be able to access all other rights as they would if they were quarantined in their own home.

They should still have enough nutritious food, access to hygiene facilities and the ability to contact friends and family.

Some Australian courts began conducting virtual hearings to help stop the spread of COVID-19. These include hearings using audio and audio-visual software.

There is evidence that virtual hearings can have a disproportionately negative impact on people with a disability, particularly those with a cognitive impairment, mental health condition and/or neurodiverse condition, and their ability to seek justice.

There are also concerns about privacy, confidentiality, and the ability of defendants to privately communicate with their legal representation.

Courts must continue to ensure participants in virtual court proceedings have accessible information about their rights, including their right to raise concerns about their participation.

During COVID-19, and always, employees have the right to be free from discrimination. These rights are protected under Australia’s anti-discrimination laws.

Understandably, there are ongoing concerns about potential risks to the safety and wellbeing of frontline workers, including those working in health, education, transport, food, and retail. All employees, regardless of their occupation, have the right to healthy and safe work environments. There must be accessible avenues for employees to raise concerns about unsafe practices or environments and employers must work in consultation with employees to identify and implement measures to address risks.

Employers can alter an employee’s duties during the COVID-19 pandemic but only to the extent that employees are qualified for the task.

You can find more information on your rights at work during the pandemic at Safe Work Australia here.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has further information about vaccinations and the workplace here.

The Fair Work Ombudsman also has specific information for migrant workers and visa holders here.

Social supports must be made available to everyone living in our communities, including those on temporary visas.

The Australian Government has measures in place in some regions to provide additional financial support to Australian citizens and permanent residents during emergency measures.

To see what support you may be eligible for, visit Services Australia who provide information on all payments available for individuals and families affected by the pandemic here.

Additionally, some state and territory governments are providing supports for individuals and for businesses and you can find more information on this assistance on their websites.

The Commission commends initiatives from many states and territories to provide financial and other support to international students and those on temporary visas.

You may be able to access rental assistance and other types of support and assistance through Services Australia. You can find more information here.

Services with information about other support available in your state include:

• The Tenants Union of NSW 
• Tenancy Advice Service ACT
• Tenants’ Advice Service NT
• Tenants Queensland
• Tenants Information and Advisory Service South Australia
• Tenants Union of Tasmania
• Tenants Victoria
• Tenancy WA

If you are at risk of homelessness, you may also wish to seek help from a homelessness support service. You can find a national directory here.

The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) are the recognised global standard for preventing and addressing business-related human rights harm. The UNGPs provide that businesses have a responsibility to respect human rights, including in times of crisis. Meeting this responsibility means businesses take steps to assess and address the human rights harms they may cause or contribute to though their activities or are directly linked to through their supply chains.

COVID-19 has elevated the risk of certain business-related human rights breaches, including failure to provide a safe and healthy work environment or work practices, or unlawful discrimination against employees in relation to conditions or termination of employment.

Globally COVID-19 also disproportionately affect vulnerable and precarious workers due to factory shutdowns, order cancellations, workforce reductions and supply chain disruptions.

Australian Border Force has prepared a factsheet for businesses reporting under the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth) about how to reduce the risk of vulnerable workers in their operations and supply chains becoming exposed to modern slavery as a result of COVID-19.

For information on how business can meet their responsibility to respect human rights in their activities and supply chains in the COVID-19 context, see:

• The Business and Human Rights Resource Centre, COVID-19 Portal
• The United Nations Development Program, Human Rights Due Diligence and COVID-19: Rapid Self-Assessment for Business
• OECD, COVID-19 and Responsible Business Conduct
• Harvard Kennedy School Corporate Responsibility Initiative, Business and COVID-19: Supporting the Most Vulnerable
• SOMO, ECCHR and Pax, Responsible disengagement in the time of corona.