Australian senators rejected a call from Senator Ralph Babet to establish a Commission of Inquiry into the government’s pandemic response. Senator Babet criticized Liberal and Labor senators who voted against his motion, which lost 26 votes to 10, with the Liberal Party split on the issue. If passed, the inquiry would have had the same powers and independence as a royal commission.
Babet accused Australia’s “political class” of denying the public a complete account of what happened during the pandemic. Those who supported the motion included senators from One Nation, Nationals, Liberals, and an Independent, while the Greens and most other Liberals abstained, and all Labor senators voted against the Bill.
This decision follows a vote against a bill that aimed to prevent discrimination based on vaccine status, which failed to pass with 32 votes against and 28 for. Currently, Australia has an ongoing inquiry into the government’s COVID-19 response and an inquiry into excess mortality.
The issue of a royal commission or similar committee to examine Australia’s COVID response has been debated for years. In late 2023, the Senate voted to refer an inquiry into the terms of reference for a COVID-19 Royal Commission to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee, which recommended establishing a royal commission to examine the Australian response to the pandemic.
There was a dissenting report from two Labor members who supported the COVID-19 Response Inquiry announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. This inquiry, led by Robyn Kruk, was seen as more timely compared to the years-long process of a royal commission.
In opposition to the recent motion, Ayres criticized both parties for allowing “a pandemic of kookiness” to overtake them. Rennick shared his experience of losing his Senate preselection due to his stance on COVID-related issues.
I’m Willing to Sacrifice My Position in the Party for the Australian People
I’m happy to lose my position in this party over that, because that’s what representing the Australian people is all about, is putting the people first.
Inquiry Has Been Widely Criticised
The current independent inquiry into the Commonwealth government’s COVID-19 response has been widely criticised as being inadequate.
Its terms of reference explicitly exclude it from examining “any actions taken unilaterally by state and territory governments,” which means lockdowns, state border closures, contact tracing failures and successes, school closures, vaccine mandates, and policing techniques will all be exempt from scrutiny.
In February, Australia’s human rights commissioner Lorraine Finlay said it was not the “best option” to examine the issue.
“The powers of a royal commission to request documents, summons witnesses, take evidence under oath and hold public hearings are essential to ensure that the pandemic response can be reviewed in a comprehensive way,” she said.
The Australian Industry Group and Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry were also critical, as were the Australian Institute for Progress, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, and the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, among others.
