Has your MP downloaded the COVIDSafe app?
A large majority of MPs have downloaded the app. Photo: ABC News/Emma Machan
The federal government is trumpeting the importance of downloading the COVIDSafe tracing app, saying it is crucial to reviving businesses and returning to normal life, but at least three of its own MPs have not downloaded it.
The ABC has checked whether every MP and senator in Parliament has downloaded the app, either by contacting them directly or checking the public record for definitive statements on the matter, ahead of restrictions potentially being lifted tomorrow.
The government has flagged the number of app downloads as a critical factor influencing how quickly those restrictions are lifted
But that has not been enough to convince all of those in Parliament, with at least one member of every party choosing not to download COVIDSafe.
That includes government MPs Barnaby Joyce and Llew O’Brien and Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells.
Several MPs and senators, including frontbenchers Michaelia Cash, Dan Tehan and Trevor Evans, did not respond to the ABC’s requests for clarification of their positions, while former cabinet minister Bridget McKenzie declined to comment.
The members of One Nation and the Greens don’t agree on many things, but both parties have expressed scepticism over the app, in contrast to the large majority of Coalition and Labor members who confirmed they had downloaded it.
All Greens MPs and senators have held off on downloading the app apart from South Australia’s Sarah Hanson-Young, with party members citing a distrust of the government’s record on data security.
Some have said they would reconsider downloading the app after further protections passed through the Parliament.
Currently, rules that only allow contact tracers to access data from the app are enforced by a ministerial declaration made by Health Minister Greg Hunt, however draft legislation has been released by the government as MPs prepare to return to Parliament next week.
The draft legislation would impose jail time and fines on anyone found to have collected or disclosed data from the COVIDSafe app illegally.
A distrust of the government was also cited by One Nation senators Pauline Hanson and Malcolm Roberts and Lower House independent Bob Katter, however all were more definitive in their positions that they would not download the app.
Centre Alliance senator Rex Patrick cited confidential meetings he held with whistleblowers as reason not to want his face-to-face contacts recorded, but said he would reconsider his position once legislation passes Parliament.
Of the handful of Labor MPs yet to install COVIDSafe, most said they intended to do so, but only once they were satisfied with the privacy protections on offer.
That’s with the exception of Labor Senator Patrick Dodson, who lives in remote Western Australia and says he intends to install it next time he’s in Broome, the nearest town with stable reception.
Mr O’Brien, a Coalition backbencher, also said he would reconsider downloading the app in light of the government’s legislation.
Many MPs and senators also raised feedback on the app they had received from voters.
While some MPs said they had received either no or only positive feedback, two clear concerns emerged: privacy concerns and phone compatibility.
Many representatives said people had contacted them to say they were concerned their private information would not be kept safe, or to say they wanted to download the app but were not able to because of the make or model of their phone.
More than 5.1 million Australians have downloaded the app since it launched on April 26.
Note: David Coleman and Alex Gallacher are excluded below as they are on personal and medical leave respectively and were not able to provide answers. Outgoing Eden-Monaro MP Mike Kelly has been excluded as he has resigned from Parliament.
Chamber | MP | Affiliation | Have downloaded the app |
---|---|---|---|
Senate | Eric Abetz | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Anthony Albanese | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | John Alexander | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Katie Allen | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Anne Aly | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Karen Andrews | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Kevin Andrews | Coalition | Yes |
Senate | Alex Antic | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Bridget Archer | Coalition | Yes |
Senate | Wendy Askew | Coalition | Yes |
Senate | Tim Ayres | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Adam Bandt | Greens | No |
House of Representatives | Angie Bell | Coalition | Yes |
Senate | Catryna Bilyk | Labor | Did not respond |
House of Representatives | Sharon Bird | Labor | Yes |
Senate | Simon Birmingham | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Chris Bowen | Labor | Yes |
Senate | Andrew Bragg | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Russell Broadbent | Coalition | Did not respond |
Senate | Slade Brockman | Coalition | Yes |
Senate | Carol Brown | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Scott Buchholz | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Tony Burke | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Linda Burney | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Josh Burns | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Terri Butler | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Mark Butler | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Anthony Byrne | Labor | Yes |
Senate | Matt Canavan | Coalition | Yes |
Senate | Kim Carr | Labor | Did not respond |
Senate | Michaelia Cash | Coalition | Did not respond |
House of Representatives | Jim Chalmers | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Nick Champion | Labor | Yes |
Senate | Claire Chandler | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Darren Chester | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Lisa Chesters | Labor | Declined to comment |
Senate | Anthony Chisholm | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | George Christensen | Coalition | Yes |
Senate | Raff Ciccone | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Jason Clare | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Sharon Claydon | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Libby Coker | Labor | Yes |
Senate | Richard Colbeck | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Julie Collins | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Pat Conaghan | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Vince Connelly | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Pat Conroy | Labor | Yes |
Senate | Mathias Cormann | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Mark Coulton | Coalition | Yes |
Senate | Perin Davey | Coalition | Yes |
Senate | Richard Di Natale | Greens | No |
House of Representatives | Milton Dick | Labor | Yes |
Senate | Pat Dodson | Labor | No |
House of Representatives | Mark Dreyfus | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Damian Drum | Coalition | Yes |
Senate | Jonathon Duniam | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Peter Dutton | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Justine Elliot | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Warren Entsch | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Trevor Evans | Coalition | Did not respond |
House of Representatives | Jason Falinski | Coalition | Yes |
Senate | Don Farrell | Labor | Yes |
Senate | Mehreen Faruqi | Greens | No |
House of Representatives | David Fawcett | Coalition | Yes |
Senate | Concetta Fierravanti-Wells | Coalition | No |
House of Representatives | Joel Fitzgibbon | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Paul Fletcher | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Nicolle Flint | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Mike Freelander | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Josh Frydenberg | Coalition | Yes |
Senate | Katy Gallagher | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Andrew Gee | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Steve Georganas | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Andrew Giles | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | David Gillespie | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Ian Goodenough | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Patrick Gorman | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Luke Gosling | Labor | Yes |
Senate | Nita Green | Labor | Yes |
Senate | Stirling Griff | Centre Alliance | Yes |
House of Representatives | Helen Haines | Independent | Yes |
House of Representatives | Celia Hammond | Coalition | Yes |
Senate | Pauline Hanson | One Nation | No |
Senate | Sarah Hanson-Young | Greens | Yes |
House of Representatives | Andrew Hastie | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Alex Hawke | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Chris Hayes | Labor | Yes |
Senate | Sarah Henderson | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Julian Hill | Labor | Did not respond |
House of Representatives | Kevin Hogan | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Luke Howarth | Coalition | Yes |
Senate | Hollie Hughes | Coalition | Yes |
Senate | Jane Hume | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Greg Hunt | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Ed Husic | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Steve Irons | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Stephen Jones | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Barnaby Joyce | Coalition | No |
House of Representatives | Bob Katter | Katter’s Australian Party | No |
House of Representatives | Ged Kearney | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Craig Kelly | Coalition | Yes |
Senate | Kristina Keneally | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Matt Keogh | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Peter Khalil | Labor | No |
House of Representatives | Madeleine King | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Catherine King | Labor | Yes |
Senate | Kimberley Kitching | Labor | Yes |
Senate | Jacqui Lambie | Jacqui Lambie Network | No |
House of Representatives | Andrew Laming | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Michelle Landry | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Julian Leeser | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Andrew Leigh | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Sussan Ley | Coalition | Yes |
Senate | Sue Lines | Labor | Did not respond |
House of Representatives | David Littleproud | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Gladys Liu | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Nola Marino | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Richard Marles | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Fiona Martin | Coalition | Yes |
Senate | Jenny McAllister | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Emma McBride | Labor | Yes |
Senate | Malarndirri McCarthy | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Michael McCormack | Coalition | Yes |
Senate | Susan McDonald | Coalition | Yes |
Senate | James McGrath | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Melissa McIntosh | Coalition | Yes |
Senate | Bridget McKenzie | Coalition | Declined to comment |
Senate | Nick McKim | Greens | No |
Senate | Andrew McLachlan | Coalition | Yes |
Senate | Sam McMahon | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | John McVeigh | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Brian Mitchell | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Rob Mitchell | Labor | Yes |
Senate | Jim Molan | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Scott Morrison | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Ben Morton | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Daniel Mulino | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Peta Murphy | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Shayne Neumann | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Ted O’Brien | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Llew O’Brien | Coalition | No |
House of Representatives | Brendan O’Connor | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Ken O’Dowd | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Clare O’Neil | Labor | Yes |
Senate | Deborah O’Neill | Labor | Yes |
Senate | Matt O’Sullivan | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Julie Owens | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Tony Pasin | Coalition | Yes |
Senate | James Paterson | Coalition | Yes |
Senate | Rex Patrick | Centre Alliance | No |
House of Representatives | Alicia Payne | Labor | Yes |
Senate | Marise Payne | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Gavin Pearce | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Graham Perrett | Labor | No |
House of Representatives | Fiona Phillips | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Keith Pitt | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Tanya Plibersek | Labor | Yes |
Senate | Helen Polley | Labor | Did not respond |
House of Representatives | Christian Porter | Liberal | Yes |
Senate | Louise Pratt | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Melissa Price | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Rowan Ramsey | Coalition | Yes |
Senate | Gerard Rennick | Coalition | Did not respond |
Senate | Linda Reynolds | Coalition | Yes |
Senate | Janet Rice | Greens | No |
House of Representatives | Amanda Rishworth | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Stuart Robert | Coalition | Yes |
Senate | Malcolm Roberts | One Nation | No |
House of Representatives | Michelle Rowland | Labor | Yes |
Senate | Anne Ruston | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Joanne Ryan | Labor | Did not respond |
Senate | Scott Ryan | Coalition | Yes |
Senate | Paul Scarr | Coalition | Yes |
Senate | Zed Seselja | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Rebekha Sharkie | Centre Alliance | Yes |
House of Representatives | Dave Sharma | Coalition | Yes |
Senate | Tony Sheldon | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Bill Shorten | Labor | Yes |
Senate | Rachel Siewert | Greens | No |
House of Representatives | Julian Simmonds | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | David Smith | Labor | Yes |
Senate | Marielle Smith | Labor | Yes |
Senate | Dean Smith | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Tony Smith | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Warren Snowdon | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Anne Stanley | Labor | Yes |
Senate | Jordan Steele-John | Greens | No |
House of Representatives | Zali Steggall | Independent | Yes |
Senate | Glenn Sterle | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | James Stevens | Coalition | Yes |
Senate | Amanda Stoker | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Michael Sukkar | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Meryl Swanson | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Angus Taylor | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Dan Tehan | Coalition | Did not respond |
House of Representatives | Susan Templeman | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Matt Thistlethwaite | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Phillip Thompson | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Kate Thwaites | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Alan Tudge | Coalition | Yes |
Senate | Anne Urquhart | Labor | No |
House of Representatives | Maria Vamvakinou | Labor | Yes |
Senate | David Van | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Bert van Manen | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Ross Vasta | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Andrew Wallace | Coalition | Yes |
Senate | Jess Walsh | Labor | Yes |
Senate | Larissa Waters | Greens | No |
Senate | Murray Watt | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Anne Webster | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Anika Wells | Labor | Yes |
Senate | Peter Whish-Wilson | Greens | No |
House of Representatives | Lucy Wicks | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Andrew Wilkie | Independent | No |
House of Representatives | Josh Wilson | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Rick Wilson | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Tim Wilson | Coalition | Yes |
Senate | Penny Wong | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Jason Wood | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Ken Wyatt | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Terry Young | Coalition | Yes |
House of Representatives | Tony Zappia | Labor | Yes |
House of Representatives | Trent Zimmerman | Coalition | Yes |