The Albanese government has established an inquiry into Australia’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic but exempted from accountability the political leaders who took most of the decisions. This is inadequate and bizarre. But it is something far more – it is an insult to the Australian public.
What has gone wrong with the Albanese government? How could it have misjudged so badly yet again? This decision will brand the government and risks ongoing embarrassment. It suggests a government with a “stitch-up” mentality whose top priority is protecting the Labor Party and its partners.
The message to the Australia people is unmistakeable: if you were damaged by unfair, unjustified or inept treatment by state governments in relation to lockdowns, closed schools, shut borders, restricting business, public health measures, limiting people movements and excessive police powers the Albanese government declines to conduct a proper inquiry or assessment of such issues.
The design of this inquiry lacks integrity and workability. It lacks integrity because it refuses to treat seriously the pain and afflictions experienced by people by acknowledging their sacrifices warrant a full assessment of what was justified and what was unjustified. It lacks workability because it implies shared Commonwealth-state decisions can be reviewed but unilateral state government decisions are beyond review. This artificial dividing line has no logic except as a Labor Party protection racket.
The extraordinary aspect of this inquiry is that virtually everybody sees through it. The political motive is embarrassing in its transparency. So, Albanese will look after the Labor premiers, Daniel Andrews and Annastacia Palaszczuk, and the premiers, presumably, will look after him. Smart politics? No, that’s “fix-it” politics guaranteed to do more brand damage to the Albanese government.
How could senior ministers not see this? Did they not grasp that people with individual stories of hardship will now be given a media megaphone? Did they not realise this makes the government look weak and evasive?
It comes at exactly the wrong time – with Labor looking after the trade unions in its IR bills, protecting Qantas from market competition and running a referendum on the voice backed by its elite partners.
The public knows the premiers dominated the Covid response and if you exempt the premiers you’re not fair dinkum. That means the focus of the inquiry falls on the Morrison government, nothing wrong with that, but it’s only half the story. Albanese said the pandemic was “the most significant global crisis that we have faced in decades” – yet his announced inquiry mocks that proposition.
Ideally, the government should revisit and redesign the terms of reference. Good luck with that. The remaining ALP pandemic premiers, Andrews and Palaszczuk, won’t agree to let Albanese set up an inquiry into what they did. The Covid story remains the same: the
premiers called the shots against Morrison; now they repeat the exercise with Albanese.
It is a dismal outcome. The Federation is still being damaged. If you want to know why people are cynical about politics, this is your prime exhibit.
Andrews’ offer to appear before the inquiry is the final insult. Having imposed one of the world’s longest lockdowns, he won’t allow a serious investigation of what he did – but knowing the inquiry can’t touch him, he is ready to co-operate.
The inquiry, however, is not a broken promise. Albanese made no firm pledge to hold a royal commission.
It is doubtful that a royal commission would be the best vehicle anyway. The qualifications of the three panellists is not an issue, nor is their independence. The inquiry, as designed, will have some value assessing the commonwealth responses to the pandemic in terms of health, vaccinations, medical supplies, financial support and assistance for Australians abroad. The timeline is short, just 12 months.
Hopefully, there will be some benefit. But Labor’s flawed design has muddied the waters. This inquiry faces a steep task to prove that it is worthwhile. The inquiry has no teeth, no legislative basis and is a creature of the executive serviced by a taskforce from Albanese’s department. Whether by accident or design, or both, the Morrison government seems to be lined up for another political hit. Time will tell.
Labor’s political self-interest is hurting the national interest. The government needs to be careful. Has the voice campaign derailed the government? Whatever the cause, the government needs a reset, a clear head and a purging of what it assumes is smart politics.
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