When the Senate Select Committee on Covid handed down its final report in April 2022, several failures in Australia’s pandemic response were identified. In total, 19 recommendations were made including: ‘The Committee recommends that a Royal Commission be established to examine Australia’s response to the Covid pandemic to inform preparedness for future Covid waves and future pandemics.’

The Chair of the Committee, Senator Katy Gallagher, said a Royal Commission was required because the government’s response had led to more cases and more deaths, stating:

‘We think the government’s response has been characterise by a failure to be prepared, a failure to take responsibility, and...