10 August 2022
What the reported results actually counted
The Health Minister’s closure release reported spending above $21 million, 7.9 million registrations through May 2022, two additional positive cases and 17 additional close contacts beyond manual tracing. ABC reported the same figures. These are attributed government measures—not a calculation of infections prevented, and not interchangeable with the number of registrations.
Closure announcement and reported results · Health Minister · 10 August 2022 · Reporting on the shutdown · ABC News · 10 August 2022
16 August 2022
The announcement came before the shutdown
The decision was announced on 10 August. The determination ending the COVIDSafe data period came into force on 16 August 2022. The final operating report records that data collection ended and the app was removed from Google and Apple app stores on that date.
Closure announcement and reported results · Health Minister · 10 August 2022 · Final privacy assessment · OAIC · 30 November 2022 · Fourth and final operating report · Department of Health · dated 15 March 2023
30 September 2022
What happened to the personal records?
The OAIC records deletion of the National COVIDSafe Data Store and backups on 30 September 2022, 45 days after operations ended. Registration data and digital-handshake records were included. Deletion followed the closure announcement.
Final privacy assessment · OAIC · 30 November 2022 · Fourth and final operating report · Department of Health · dated 15 March 2023
30 November 2022
Some statistics stayed. The regulator explained why.
The OAIC found deletion compliance, while distinguishing retained aggregate statistics from personal COVID app data. Notification requirements were only partly met: outside the app, messaging did not adequately state that data could no longer be collected. The department said it updated its website. This distinction matters when reading the operating report’s broader compliance summary.
Final privacy assessment · OAIC · 30 November 2022 · Fourth and final operating report · Department of Health · dated 15 March 2023
23 March 2023
The final report is a further record—not another shutdown
The Department of Health’s last operating report is dated 15 March 2023; its publication page records 23 March. It counts uploads, digital handshakes, encounters and potential contacts separately. Those measures must not be substituted for additional confirmed cases. The report also records the completed decommissioning and privacy assessment.
Fourth and final operating report · Department of Health · dated 15 March 2023 · Final report publication record · Department of Health · 23 March 2023
10 January 2025
Later disclosures concern the earlier development
The department released documents concerning DTA and Boston Consulting Group’s involvement during April–May 2020. The package includes delivery planning from that period. This is a later disclosure of historical material; it does not record a restart of contact tracing or overturn the documented shutdown and deletion.
Later disclosure of 2020 development documents · Health Department · 10 January 2025
The evidence
Sources for this update
- 01Launch release · Department of Health · event 26 April 2020
- 02Closure announcement and reported results · Health Minister · 10 August 2022
- 03Reporting on the shutdown · ABC News · 10 August 2022
- 04Final privacy assessment · OAIC · 30 November 2022
- 05Fourth and final operating report · Department of Health · dated 15 March 2023
- 06Final report publication record · Department of Health · 23 March 2023
- 07Original launch-day reporting · ABC News · 26 April 2020
- 08Later disclosure of 2020 development documents · Health Department · 10 January 2025
Where the story stands
The story continues when the evidence does.
The operating and privacy records establish shutdown and personal-data deletion, with the notification qualification set out above. Later disclosures add historical development material. This account does not calculate infections prevented or claim that all later reviews are covered. Further verified developments will be added.