14 Australian Politicians Call on Prime Minister to Decline WHO Pandemic Treaty
The politicians warned that if Australia adopted the upcoming World Health Organization (WHO) pandemic treaty, it would grant the WHO an unacceptable level of authority, power, and influence over the country’s affairs.
Fourteen Australian politicians penned a letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, urging the Labor government not to sign the treaty ahead of the 77th World Health Assembly on May 27. This treaty, in its draft stage, would make WHO the guiding authority for international public health responses during emergencies.
Some concerns have been raised by legal experts and politicians about the potential impact of the treaty on member countries’ sovereignty and the level of authority it would confer to the WHO. Additionally, amendments to the International Health Regulation (IHR) are being proposed to turn non-binding recommendations into binding obligations.
The letter from the politicians, representing a spectrum from right to centre-right, stated that both the WHO pandemic treaty and the IHR amendments would pose a substantial threat to Australia’s autonomy and independence if implemented. They emphasized that the WHO’s role is to offer advice and coordination, not to dictate measures beyond its jurisdiction.
It is worth noting that the UK and other countries have also expressed reservations about the current draft of the treaty, citing concerns about national sovereignty. It remains to be seen how negotiations around the treaty and IHR amendments will evolve in the future.
