Australia: Call for Royal Commission Over COVID Response
Australia's Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee has recommended the creation of a royal commission into the country's handling of the COVID pandemic....
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Facts
- Australia's Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee has recommended the creation of a royal commission into the country's handling of the COVID pandemic.1
- Published on April 19, the report claims there's 'overwhelming' support for a royal commission. Just three of 559 committee submissions didn't support its establishment.2
- The report continues that a royal commission would 'assist in restoring public trust' in the country's governance while claiming the Australian public is owed 'a better understanding' of specific pandemic measures.2
- Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in September announced a 12-month inquiry into the COVID pandemic, claiming he was advised against a royal commission as it 'can take more time.'3
- Australia's current inquiry has been criticized by the country's Human Rights Commission for excluding unilateral actions by state and territorial governments — including lockdowns, border and school closures, and mask mandates.4
- A royal commission is described by the Australian government as the 'highest form of inquiry,' created 'in rare and exceptional circumstances' with the ability to determine its own procedures.5
Sources: 1Guardian, 2parlinfo.aph.gov.au, 3abc.net.au, 4Humanrights and 5Royal Commissions.
Narratives
- Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by IPA. Australia's government continues to break its promise of providing its people the COVID inquiry they deserve. Australia's current shallow investigation, led by political appointees, isn't reliable. The country's elite continues to shy away from providing real answers about their decision-making during the pandemic.
- Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by The Sydney Morning Herald. A royal commission would be reliant on the cooperation of all states and territories to achieve meaningful results, and would by no means guarantee valuable information. Regardless of format, Australia's inquiry must encourage honest reflection for the process to be of any value.
