October 2024
- Opinion
- COVID inquiry
The danger of COVID zealots has not passed
The proposed new Australian Centre for Disease Control is open to the same ideological capture that plagued its US counterpart.
- Nick Coatsworth
July 2024
Labor Right pushes for extra spot as O’Neil speculation swirls
Speculation is intensifying that Clare O’Neil will be shifted from Home Affairs and be replaced by Agriculture Minister Murray Watt.
- Phillip Coorey
April 2023
Leader of Australia’s COVID pandemic response retires
Health Department secretary Brendan Murphy, who led the nation through the turbulent COVID-19 pandemic, is retiring.
- Tess Ikonomou
June 2022
Queen’s Birthday honours for impact investing pioneer
Impact investor Andrew Kuper and corporate veteran Leigh Clifford, along with pandemic leaders, scientists and politicians, were recognised for their work in the Queen’s Birthday awards.
- Edmund Tadros and Tom McIlroy
January 2022
- Exclusive
- Coronavirus pandemic
Developing antivirals ‘next big COVID-19 mission’: Hunt
Australia could take a leading role in the development of antiviral drugs to treat COVID-19 and influenza, with more research funding to help combat future pandemics.
- Tom McIlroy
December 2021
Hunt to launch booster-shot campaign on fears of no omicron immunity
“Boosters are very important to give that extra immunity, particularly as the omicron variant is likely to spread around the world,” says Brendan Murphy.
- Jacob Greber
September 2021
ATAGI still pondering boosters as Biden gets his third shot
Health Department boss Brendan Murphy said the federal government’s expert vaccination panel hasn’t decided on when third shots could start in Australia.
- Tom McIlroy
May 2021
‘Vaccine ring’ could be activated if Melbourne outbreak grows
Significant vaccine stocks are in place in Victoria and officials say they could be redirected if a significant spike in cases develops.
- Tom McIlroy
April 2021
Early phases of vaccine rollout won’t be finished until July: analysis
Health Department secretary Brendan Murphy and the government’s new rollout logistics boss Commodore Eric Young say new vaccination timetables aren’t possible.
- Tom McIlroy and Ronald Mizen
March 2021
Vaccine timeline does not include second dose: PM
Australian authorities believe the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is safe, despite some European countries pausing its use.
- Tom McIlroy
The doctors are back in charge. Here’s why.
Not so long ago, we believed the era of infectious diseases was over. After a brutal reality check, a medical doctor now runs the federal health department, and a national centre for disease control is being considered.
- Jill Margo
Vaccine rollout target slips beyond October
A 12-week interval required for the AstraZeneca drug could see some Australians receive their second injection at the end of the year.
- Tom McIlroy
‘When Australia shuts down, it shuts down’: Fauci praises Australia
Top US infectious diseases scientist Anthony Fauci says Australia led the world in its COVID-19 response, as the Prime Minister defends the slow vaccine rollout.
- Tom McIlroy
January 2021
One step forward, two weeks back on COVID-19 vaccine
The drugs regulator has issued the first approval for a COVID-19 vaccine but global supply challenges mean the rollout will begin about a fortnight later than expected.
- Ronald Mizen
Vaccine rollout might not be enough to restart international travel
Health Department boss Brendan Murphy says tough international border closures and hotel quarantine rules could be needed until 2022.
- Tom McIlroy
Travel restart unlikely in 2021: Health boss
Tough border closures and hotel quarantine requirements look likely to remain in place until next year despite the 'light at the end of the tunnel' offered by vaccine rollouts.
- Tom McIlroy
November 2020
Local vaccine production to start next week
The first batch of millions of doses produced by CSL will be ready by the end of the year, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced, even though regulators are yet to approve a vaccine.
- Andrew Tillett
October 2020
Premiers, doctors and bankers back in charge but PM still on top
Bushfires of terrifying ferocity, followed by a global pandemic caused by a pathogen visible only with an electron microscope, have shown us real power.
- Phillip Coorey
September 2020
- Opinion
- The AFR View
It's time Daniel Andrews owned up to his elimination plan
Daniel Andrews' “aggressive suppression” euphemism is extending false hope to lockdown-fatigued Victorians about life, work, and business being back to normal by Christmas.
- The AFR View
August 2020
'Pressured' Victorian health officials abandoned COVIDSafe app
Victorian contact tracers felt so pressured they stopped accessing data from the COVIDSafe app during the state's coronavirus outbreak.
- Ronald Mizen