Pandemic Justice - An Historical Perspective

A "blame game" conducted between the Commonwealth and a State with respect to alleged laxity in public health administration in relation to the arrival of vessels carrying passengers from abroad during a global pandemic (eg, the report by Freya Noble, "Coronavirus: Emails show NSW Health knew of COVID-19 risk on Ruby Princess", National Nine News, 4 April 2020). Special court practices and procedures introduced and limitations as to the types of case that proceed during that pandemic (eg, "The Federal Court's Response to the COVID19 Outbreak" on the Court's webpage). Such are but some of the features of contemporary life and of the administration of justice in Australia during the COVID-19 global pandemic. An examination of reports of some court proceedings and court practices and procedures a little over a century ago during the "Spanish influenza" pandemic in 1919 reveals some earlier parallels and assists in putting the apparent novelty of contemporary events in perspective.