COVID-19 Fallout: Inquiry Reveals Crumbling Public Trust

Laboratory technicians wearing personal protective equipment working on samples to be tested for COVID-19 at the Fire Eye laboratory, a COVID-19 testing facility, in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province, on Aug. 4, 2021. STR/AFP via Getty Images

The long-awaited inquiry report into the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed significant coordination failures between federal and state governments, leading to widespread confusion and chaos.

Spanning 877 pages, the report highlights substantial misunderstandings regarding roles and responsibilities during the pandemic, particularly between the Australian government and states and territories.

It notes that the lack of clear departmental leadership and shifting responsibilities created operational challenges in critical areas such as quarantine, vaccine rollout, and support for at-risk groups.

“State and territory governments have called for clearer delineation of responsibilities, especially for future pandemics,” the report states.

Furthermore, the report criticises the rapid implementation of untested policy measures, such as border closures, which led to unintended consequences and highlights the necessity of structured feedback mechanisms.

It states that the decision by many states to close borders “lacked clear rationale and caused significant harm.”

In September 2023, the Albanese government faced scrutiny for omitting state government responses from its COVID-19 inquiry, leaving lockdown policies and border closures unexamined.

Neglecting Mental Health and Public Trust

The report critiques the government’s pandemic response, particularly highlighting the neglect of mental health and human rights. It warns that vaccine mandates have contributed to ongoing hesitancy towards vaccinations for other diseases.

It also found that trust in the government eroded over time.

“Initially, Australians exhibited high compliance with pandemic restrictions due to strong trust in government actions; however, this trust began to decline over time,” it said.

The report underscores a critical challenge for future public health responses: the need to re-establish this trust, as public willingness to comply with similar measures cannot be taken for granted in future emergencies.

The swift establishment of economic relief and social support programs initially solidified public trust, as Australians felt their health and economic security were being prioritised.

However, as the pandemic progressed, that trust began to erode due to concerns about transparency and the rationale behind ongoing restrictions.

“Many felt that the government’s decision-making lacked clarity, particularly regarding vaccine access and inconsistent state responses,” the report said.

While leaders held daily press conferences and shared statistics, a strong sentiment emerged that the government was not being fully transparent, leading to perceptions of mistrust.

Unity, Transparency

Going forward, the panel recommends enhanced coordination, data-driven risk assessments, and robust plans for priority populations to improve future emergency responses.

It said that establishing a national cabinet or a similar entity is essential to unite national and state leaders, facilitating a holistic approach that minimises the long-term health, safety, economic, and social impacts associated with pandemics.

The need for greater transparency is also noted, suggesting that decisions made in 2020 often overlooked economic, social, mental health, and human rights implications.

Divergent state responses further eroded public trust, particularly as the once-united National Cabinet approach fractured, leading to contradictory decisions that confused the public.

Rebuilding Lives After the Pandemic

In light of COVID-19’s long-term effects, the report recommends significant reforms to Australia’s health, economic, and educational pandemic response frameworks.

These immediate and medium-term actions, spanning the next 12-18 months in preparation for future health crises, focus on addressing recovery gaps, mental health needs, and strengthening emergency preparedness.

To close recovery gaps from COVID-19, the report highlighted the immediate need for investment in mental health support, particularly for children and young people.

It suggests a targeted “COVID catch-up” initiative to respond to setbacks in health prevention services.

One proposal involves creating structures to include young people in pandemic planning, suggesting that a Chief Paediatrician and the National Children’s Commissioner be included on the Australian Health Protection Committee. This would ensure that children’s unique needs are considered in emergency responses.

Public Health Surveillance

The report underscores the need for a cohesive national response plan covering health, economic, and social dimensions. It would be developed jointly with states, territories, and key partners.

Proposed updates to the National Health Emergency Plan and the National Communicable Disease Plan would establish more responsive protocols, including detailed guidelines for managing high-risk settings.

A recommendation to finalise and expand the Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC) is central to this strategy. The CDC’s primary roles would include integrated communicable disease data, risk assessment, public health communication, and collaboration with government and academia.

Plans for an advanced public health surveillance system, including wastewater analysis, and biennial reviews of national pandemic preparedness aim to strengthen early detection and response capacities.

As the CDC progresses, the report highlights the importance of establishing a comprehensive network for mapping and enhancing Australia’s pandemic detection and response capabilities, ensuring the nation is well-prepared for potential future health crises.

Health Minister Mark Butler welcomed the review, noting that it aimed neither to “scapegoat” individuals nor to shy away from tough truths.

“It’s natural for people to want to move on and avoid revisiting what was an incredibly distressing time for our community,” he stated.

Appreciating Australia’s Successes

However, the report by the reviewers—senior public servant Robyn Kruk, epidemiologist Professor Catherine Bennett, and economist Angela Jackson—also complimented Australia for tackling the pandemic much better than many other countries.

“Overall, we believe that people should be proud of what we achieved during the pandemic … Australia was one of the most successful countries in its pandemic response,” they said.