> _“#Australia is undoubtedly a democracy, with multiple political parties, regular elections, and the peaceful transfer of power. But if a country **indefinitely forbids its own citizens from leaving its borders, strands tens of thousands of its citizens abroad, puts strict rules on intrastate travel, prohibits citizens from leaving home without an excuse from an official government list, mandates masks even when people are outdoors and socially distanced, deploys the military to enforce those rules, bans protest, and arrests and fines dissenters**, is that country still a liberal #democracy?”_

— [_The Atlantic_](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/09/pandemic-australia-still-liberal-democracy/619940/)

…and now, this!

> _“Australia now has a **warrantless #surveillance regime** on the books […] There is **no one to argue on your behalf**, and **there is never any notification to the individual (even after the fact)** so you will never know if you were subject to any of these powers.”_

— [_Digital Rights Watch_](https://digitalrightswatch.org.au/2021/09/02/australias-new-mass-surveillance-mandate/)