Former Prime Minister Urges COVID-19 Royal Commission, Claiming Democracy is Lost
‘The last thing we’d want to be is locked up for several years, again,’ Tony Abbott said
Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has expressed concerns that Australia may face another lockdown if a full Royal Commission investigation into the pandemic response is not conducted.
Abbott, who served as Prime Minister from 2013 to 2015, stated that Australia ceased to function as a democracy for a period during the pandemic.
Speaking to his former Chief of Staff Peta Credlin after former Liberal Health Minister Greg Hunt’s submission to the current government’s COVID-19 inquiry, Abbott criticized the measures implemented by state and territory leaders, including vaccine mandates, lockdowns, and domestic border closures.
Abbott told Sky News Australia that the response to COVID turned out to be more harmful than the disease itself. He attributed the drastic measures taken to a panicky reaction fueled by images of overwhelmed Italian hospitals.
Abbott warned that without a comprehensive Royal Commission-style inquiry into the pandemic response, future pandemics could prompt similar severe actions, resulting in long-lasting lockdowns.
Abbott emphasized the importance of maintaining democracy, even in times of crisis, and expressed his concerns about the lack of transparency and accountability during the pandemic.
Despite calls for a Royal Commission, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese opted for a COVID-19 Response Inquiry, chaired by Robyn Kruk, Professor Catherine Bennett, and Dr. Angela Jackson.
No Longer a Democracy: Abbott
Abbott supported expert medical advice but stressed the importance of preserving Australia’s democratic principles.
He raised concerns about the influence of doctors and medical experts on public policy decisions, urging for a transparent and accountable democracy.
Liberal National Party Senator Matt Canavan and One Nation Senators Malcolm Roberts and Pauline Hanson have been advocating for a COVID-19 Royal Commission, especially after news of the global withdrawal of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Victoria’s Pandemic Restrictions Against Medical Advice: Hunt
Hunt’s submission revealed that the Victorian government’s restrictions, such as the five-kilometer radius movement limit and curfews, went against medical advice.
Hunt recommended that states commit to not making unilateral decisions against National Cabinet directives unless there is published and signed medical advice proving otherwise.
Melbourne became one of the world’s longest locked-down cities during the pandemic, with strict curfews and movement restrictions in place.
Former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews justified these measures as necessary for public health, despite the economic impact on businesses in the state.
