COVID Panel: Government Powers, civil rights and the law

UWA is hosting a panel of experts to answer your questions about government policies to control COVID-19 and your rights as a citizen.


We have all seen this or been there. Governments around the world are implementing all sorts of extraordinary measures to curb the COVID-19 pandemic and its huge economic and social impact. From lockdowns and social distancing to compulsory vaccination, travel bans, vaccine passports, and regular testing, people are experiencing a whole new lifestyle.

Life as we know it has radically changed, particularly anywhere outside Western Australia. In many places, the use of these exceptional measures has been legally challenged, leading to heated criticism by civil rights advocates, and public protests across the country. In WA laws have been changed to force health workers to get vaccinated, or risk losing their jobs.

What are your legal rights in these troubled times? The expert panel hosted by UWA will discuss questions like:

  • Are our constitutional rights actually being subverted?
  • What alterations to our social fabric are permissible under the law?
  • How much faith can we have in conventional checks and balances?

To address these issues, the UWA Public Policy Institute, the UWA Law School, and the Australian Association of Constitutional Law are hosting a public ‘Ask the experts’ panel discussion.  The event aims to shed some light on the potential implications of COVID-19 on citizens’ rights and the extent and limits of constitutional and emergency powers of governments during the pandemic.

The panel of experts will dissect some of the controversies in this space and participants will have the opportunity to ask their most pressing questions.

About the event
Time: Wednesday 27 October, 5:30 – 7pm
Place: Law Lecture Theatre, UWA. Campus location: click here.
Panel: the expert panel will include:

  • Associate Professor Meredith Blake, health law and ethics
  • Dr Murray Wesson, constitutional law and human rights law
  • Professor Sarah Murray, constitutional law
  • Ms Julie Falck, administrative law

The event will be moderated by the Dean and Head of the UWA Law School, Professor Natalie Skead.

Can’t attend? You can see it online. The event will be held both in-person and live-streamed for local, regional, remote and international communities. The recording will be sent to all registrants about a week after the event.