00:00 At South Australia's hub for excellence in medical research, the Prime Minister announcing
00:07 an inquiry into whether the COVID-19 response met the nation's lofty standards.
00:13 This pandemic may well be, indeed is not likely to be the last one that occurs.
00:18 A former public servant, an epidemiological expert and a health economist putting pandemic
00:23 preparedness under the microscope. Issues for investigation including the purchase and
00:28 rollout of vaccines and the billions of dollars in financial support offered to individuals
00:33 and businesses during the darkest days of the crisis.
00:36 There were a range of things that we did that were very good. But what can be done better
00:42 in the future? We have the benefit of hindsight, we have the
00:45 benefit that we're not in the middle of a pandemic. To really look closely at all those
00:49 decisions. Some of the most contentious matters, such
00:53 as state and territory border closures and lengthy lockdowns will escape scrutiny, with
00:58 the inquiry's terms of reference expressly excluding actions taken unilaterally by state
01:03 and territory governments. The Prime Minister is putting the interests
01:06 of Daniel Andrews and Anastasia Palaszczuk ahead of the interests of the Australian people.
01:11 At the time of the pandemic, there were three Liberal premiers in states and three Labor
01:18 premiers. If there's nothing to hide here, then why
01:20 not let the sun shine in? In the lead up to last year's election, the
01:24 Prime Minister outlined his intentions. I support looking at it through a measure
01:29 like a Royal Commission. We haven't finalised what the structure would be.
01:35 It should be a Royal Commission, there's no question about that.
01:38 What do you think a Royal Commission could do that this couldn't do? Nothing.
01:43 That's not quite right with the powers a Royal Commission has to compel witnesses and evidence
01:48 going far further than what the Prime Minister has announced today.
01:52 And there will be serious questions about the legitimacy of this inquiry, given that
01:56 carve-out of state and territory decisions and the marked impact they had on the lives
02:01 of millions of Australians over a two-year period.
02:04 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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