Coronavirus: Barnaby Joyce and Stuart Robert clash over COVIDSafe tracing

Nationals member for New England Barnaby Joyce. Picture: AAP

Barnaby Joyce, Nine Entertainment newspapers, April 19:

I treasure the government knowing as little about me as possible.

Stuart Robert, the minister in charge of the COVIDSafe app, slaps back. 2GB, April 19:

Look, Barnaby, no one wants to know where you’ve gone, pal, we are not interested … plus the app doesn’t do geolocation. I’m not interested in where you are on the face of the Earth.

Robert again, ABC, April 20:

I think most Australians … aren’t too concerned where Barnaby is. Barnaby is concerned that someone is tracking or surveilling him. That couldn’t be further from the case.

Nationals deputy David Littleproud, April 19:

I respect my colleague’s decision not to download that app … Just calm your jets.

Joyce round two, Seven Network’s Sunrise, April 20:

My major concern is, doesn’t matter what they say, there’s always capacity for people to hack into it … with just four random pieces of information … in a small town (I’ve) got 99.98 per cent chance of working out who you are. Now, a benevolent source maybe you don’t have to worry about. But the people who hack in to mine data sets are not benevolent, their malevolent and we will know that the Chinese government at one instance have been hacking into our computers … So, (they’re) going to work out who I’m speaking to, and they’re going to know more information about me than I want them to know.

But wait, there’s more:

I’ve been doing my own research and I’ve been listening to people who are profoundly cleverer than both of us.

Nationals leader Michael McCormack, April 21:

Barnaby Joyce is doing the hard work for the people of New England …

Will Barnaby download the app? Roberts on ABC’s RN Breakfast, April 20:

I am not sure what Barnaby is going to do and I’m sure he’ll work it out and tell us all when he’s ready.

Robert again. Sky News, April 20:

Robert: Well, (I) can’t possibly comment on Barnaby and what he’s up to.

Peter Stefanovic: He says he’s not going to download it … has he got a point?

Robert: No.

Stefanovic: That’s it.

Robert: Yeah. In fact he said on Sunrise this morning that he hasn’t sought information, he hasn’t sought a briefing, he hasn’t been briefed and he hasn’t spoken to government ministers about it. I’m happy to speak to any colleague, anytime … and I’d expect all colleagues, if you’ve got any concerns, give me a call, we’ll provide every bit of information possible to you.

Has Roberts called Joyce? Apparently not. Sunrise, April 10:

Joyce: I did contact Stuart Robert. I left a message and asked him if I’d get a briefing on it.

David Koch: Oh, did he get back to you?

Joyce: Not yet.

Joyce dons a tin hat. Monday:

It’s more than just Bluetooth. I mean, obviously, McDonald’s can tell you where I am, and this app will tell you who I’m speaking to.

ACTU boss Sally McManus, Twitter, Monday:

I downloaded the COVIDSafe app because I just assume they track everything I do anyway and at least this might save lives.