Pandemic created a new breed of hero in chief medical officers

Professor Brendan Murphy was ready to quit as Australia’s chief medical officer – and then Covid-19 hit.

The nation’s chief doctor, Professor Brendan Murphy, has been awarded an AC in the Queen’s Birthday honours list for his leadership during Covid-19. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Martin Ollman

Like countless doctors around Australia, when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, the nation’s chief medical officer, Brendan Murphy, was flying blind.

In his three years as the nation’s chief doctor, he had never confronted a major crisis, but in February 2020 was suddenly thrust into the limelight and charged with making momentous decisions that would affect every Australian.

“I remember saying to minister (Greg) Hunt that I’ve been CMO for three years and haven’t had one big public health crisis. I’m happy to move to the next job. But then two weeks later, Covid hit,” he said.

“It was an extraordinary time. There was so little we knew about this virus, we were learning about it every day, and adapting to it and creating public health paradigms, such as border closures that nobody had ever really imagined in the past.”

Now, Professor Murphy has been awarded the highest honour in the Queen’s Birthday honours, being appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia and named on the Covid-19 Honour Roll.

“I’m very, very, very honoured,” said Professor Murphy, who is now secretary of the federal health department.

“I’ve had the incredible fortune of having, and still have, a very varied and interesting career in the health system, in which I’ve been part of wonderful teams. And this honour is a reflection of that.”

The other recipient of an AC on the Covid-19 Honour Roll is Queensland’s former chief health officer, Jeannette Young, who is now the state’s Governor. NSW CHO Kerry Chant was appointed an Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AO).

Former Queensland chief health officer Jeannette Young, now the state’s governor, is a recipient of an AC on the Covid-19 Honour Roll. Picture: John Gass

Professor Murphy said he never imagined he would have to cope with a pandemic of such devastating proportions as CMO.

He was acutely aware of the gravity of the decisions the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee were making. “The worst time for me was when we introduced nationwide those very severe restrictions in March 2020, and a lot of people are suddenly out of a job. Everyone was concerned about whether the decisions were the best decisions but in retrospect, I think we did pretty well suppressing the virus for so long,” he said.

Another health leader appointed an Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AO) is University of NSW epidemiologist Mary McLaws, who is also an adviser to the World Health Organisation.

Like most epidemiologists, she had a low profile prior to Covid-19 but quickly became a household name. She became well known for her brilliant communication, incisive analysis and frank and fearless advice to governments.

“I had never really been interviewed before 2020,” Professor McLaws said.

“Occasionally someone would ask me what was happening about the flu. Really we didn’t have to worry too much about anything in Australia.”

Six months ago, Professor McLaws was diagnosed with a brain tumour and received an outpouring of support from around the nation. She has undergone treatment and her latest MRI indicated the tumour had completely disappeared.

Those appointed Members in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM) include geriatric pharmacologist Sarah Hilmer, former NSW Health secretary Elizabeth Koff, rural doctor Ewen McPhee, Dean of Medicine at the Australian National University Imogen Mitchell, obstetrician Jeremy Oats, and public health physician Tarun Weeramanthri.