Labor MPs call for a royal commission into coronavirus response

Four federal Labor MPs have backed a royal commission into Australia’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, arguing the inquiry will provide vital lessons for the future.

Victorian MP Julian Hill, Queensland MP Anika Wells and Western Australian MPs Patrick Gorman and Anne Aly all threw cautious support behind the idea of a non-partisan inquiry - which is not official Labor policy - and suggested the best time to start would be in early 2022. Independent senator Rex Patrick has already called for a royal commission into the response to the pandemic.

Labor MP Julian Hill says a Royal Commission into COVID is “inevitable”Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

There have been nine royal commissions ordered by federal governments in the last decade, including most recently into veterans’ suicide, the banking sector and aged care. Labor agitated for the banking royal commission for more than a year before the Turnbull government yielded to pressure and called the inquiry.

Two inquiries ordered by former prime minister Tony Abbott - into the pink batts home insulation scheme, and into the trade union movement - were widely seen by Labor as partisan.

The four MPs were scathing of those two inquiries and stressed a royal commission into the handling of the pandemic would examine a range of issues including the Ruby Princess cruise ship outbreak, Victoria’s deadly second wave - both of which have already been subject to state inquiries - and Australia’s vaccine purchasing strategy.

Queensland Labor MP Anika Wells says the pandemic has highlighted structural problems in Australia.Credit: Attila Csaszar

Mr Hill said a royal commission into Australia’s pandemic response was inevitable, given the scale of the event, the many failings and the importance of learning and recording lessons for future generations.

“Right now seems a little early given the crisis of the vaccine roll out, the failing quarantine program and the Sydney disaster. But planning or scoping should quietly begin with a view to starting some time next year,” he said.

“It should be a bipartisan endeavour, not a political witch hunt.”

Ms Wells said that increasingly royal commissions were being used as a substitute for good government but a “once in a century pandemic” called for a royal commission.

WA Labor MP Anne Aly backs a Royal Commission that is independent and non-partisan.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

“The pandemic has lit up structural problems such as insecure work and a lack of local manufacturing for things such as being able to make mRNA vaccines and PPE”.

Ms Aly said the inquiry should not be rushed, should be strictly non-partisan and would provide valuable lessons for the future.

“We should be pushing for it given the economic cost of the pandemic and the length of the pandemic,” she said.

Ms Aly wants a royal commission to look at the functioning of national cabinet, consider decisions made at various points during the pandemic and review incidents like the Ruby Princess.

Mr Gorman, who is a frontbencher, said a royal commission was not a priority while Australia was in the midst of a national emergency with millions of people in lockdown. “The government should be focussed on taking immediate responsibility for the disastrous vaccine rollout,” he said.

WA Labor MP Patrick Gorman says national cabinet should be examined by an inquiry.

He said the federal government’s openness and standards of accountability had sunk to a new low during the COVID-19 pandemic but an inquiry would be able to examine why the federal government had initially supported Clive Palmer’s court challenge over the closure of the WA border.

“Scott Morrison should consider the national interest in waiving cabinet-in-confidence on documents, especially National Cabinet documents, which may assist in helping future governments respond to the long-term challenges of COVID.”

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