The government has rejected demands for a royal commission into Australia’s handling of COVID-19, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Health Minister Mark Butler expected to instead announce an inquiry into the pandemic on Thursday.
It is understood the inquiry will be conducted by an all-female panel which will include an economist, an epidemiologist and a public administration official.
As opposition leader, Anthony Albanese frequently chastised the government for its response to the pandemic, and promised voters that, if elected, his government would launch a “a royal commission or some form of inquiry”.
However, since its election win in May 2022, the government has proved reluctant thus far to launch any investigation on the basis that the pandemic’s effects were ongoing.
Pressed on the issue in May, Mr Albanese said that “when we are confident that we’re through those issues [the continued effect of the virus], then we’ll examine it”.
A Senate committee, which was chaired by current Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, was established in the absence of a royal commission in April 2020 months after the COVID-19 pandemic struck.
Among its recommendations was a call for a probe into the country’s reaction to the pandemic to ensure future preparedness.
“The committee recommends that a Royal Commission be established to examine Australia‘s response to the COVID-19 pandemic to inform preparedness for future COVID-19 waves and future pandemics,” the final report read.
Previously the opposition had criticised the government’s failure to hold any inquiry, accusing it of attempting to deflect criticism and avoid scrutiny of Queensland’s Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.
Both premiers are the only two state leaders who have remained in power since the pandemic.
Previously, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton asserted that Mr Albanese saw “political advantage” in an inquiry that lacked the authority to investigate the involvement of the states and territories during the pandemic.