The Australian Government's Covid-19 Inquiry Report provides us with an important opportunity to look at the key findings.
But first, let’s remind ourselves of the lockdowns, the border closures, the mandates and the complete disruption of our Australian way of life… all for a respiratory virus with an infection fatality rate around the same as the flu.’ It wasn’t just the disruption of the lockdowns, it was the unmitigated disaster of public health policy that destroyed businesses, families and lives. These were direct actions by governments on the people.
One of the key takeaways from the report is the significant erosion of trust that occurred during the pandemic. The report summary states, “Trust has… been eroded, and many of the measures taken during COVID-19 are unlikely to be accepted by the population again.”
Trust is easily destroyed but not easily restored. This breach of trust came about through a lack of transparency, government heavy handedness, willful disregard of human rights and the destruction of informed consent.
The report also raises critical questions about individual freedoms, particularly around vaccine mandates. The report states “Significant concerns were raised about vaccine mandates and people’s freedom to make their own medical choices… and the consequences of choosing not to.”
One of the most troubling aspects of the pandemic response was the silencing of doctors and healthcare professionals. Many raised valid concerns, yet these were dismissed, and alternative perspectives were suppressed. You have to wonder how much public health damage was done through this stifling of open scientific debate.
The inquiry is wholly inadequate, and only serves to reinforce the broken trust. There must be a Royal Commission with legal powers to truly examine Australia’s pandemic response. Only an independent body with the authority to investigate can ensure that these critical issues are scrutinised and accountability is upheld. The pandemic actions and decisions must be thoroughly examined to learn from this experience and prevent future missteps. Perhaps we’d like to re-adopt our previous pandemic plan that was completely ignored!
The answer to our pandemic problems does not lie in more government and more regulation and, dare I say it, more funding for the government CDC. It lies in the preservation of the fundamental principles that define a free and democratic society: informed consent, bodily autonomy, freedom of speech, and open scientific discourse.
It is through these values that we can rebuild trust, empower individuals to make informed decisions, and create a healthier, more resilient future.
Let this report serve as a reminder of what not to do, and instead build a more trusted and transparent response in the future, one rooted in respect for individual rights and freedoms.
And that’s justice as I see it.
