She is partnering with Scientia Professor Jane McAdam , Director of the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law at UNSW , on the project , Rethinking medico-legal borders : from international to internal histories . The research , funded by an ARC Special Research Initiative grant , examines incidences of domestic border control in Australia ’ s history of infectious disease to create an integrated , cross-disciplinary critique of Australia ’ s COVID-19 response .
It analyses four precedents where internal movement was restricted for public health purposes : the plague ( 1899 – 1903 ), the Spanish influenza ( 1918 – 19 ), SARS ( 2002 – 03 ) and COVID-19 . It examines how competing priorities of public health and individual liberties , state and federal interventions , localised public responses , and media coverage impact the management of quarantine and movement restrictions , and its health outcomes .
Examining precedents contextualises and informs contemporary policy as well as helping us prepare for the next epidemic .
Our collaboration Alison Bashford is partnering on the project with :
> Jane McAdam from UNSW Law & Justice > UNSW PhD candidate Tiarne Barratt > And UNSW post-doctoral research fellow Dr Chi Chi Huang .
Quarantine Camp , Jubilee Oval , 1919 . Image : Kaines Collection , State Library of South Australia , PRG 1638 / 2 / 99 .
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History repeats in the introduction of localised boundaries in response to COVID-19 . It is imperative our response to the pandemic is analysed from both a legal and social perspective . This is not the last pandemic . When the next one comes around , we ’ ll have all these new precedents to contend with , Alison Bashford says .
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Health , wellbeing and inclusion
Creating Impact @ UNSW Arts , Design & Architecture 27 .