As loathe as I am to remind us of the Victorian Labor Government’s horrific handling of regional Victoria and its border regions during the COVID-19 pandemic, as federal Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Health and out of respect for those that suffered most, we must discuss this week’s major federal inquiry report.

The Albanese Labor Government commissioned a federal review of the handling of the pandemic with narrow terms of reference but, even so, the Inquiry was scathing in its criticism of the then Andrews Labor Government.  Victorian Labor made unilateral decisions about lockdowns, curfews and vaccine mandates without transparency or accountability. Victorian Labor’s harsh mandates were driven by a lack of confidence in their own state health system, was haphazard and failed to adequately consider mental health, the Inquiry found.

The Inquiry also found that closing schools was particularly harmful as it was not based on evidence and could now have damaging and long-lasting effects on children. These so-called ‘lifestyle disruptions’ changed brain biology in children and young people, with a greater impact on girls and young women.

The inquiry slammed border closures as heavy-handed, lacking compassion, consistency or justification.

Indeed, the report revealed that pre-pandemic planning had ruled out school and border closures - and forced quarantine - as measures considered unlikely to be tolerated or implemented.  Hence, when Victorian Labor implemented these harsh measures, they were unprepared and harmful.

The Federal Coalition has always said that Australians deserve a genuine and thorough investigation of Covid-19.  The Albanese Labor government made this a politically motivated inquiry.  When the inquiry was announced, I criticised the government’s narrow terms of reference and protection of then predominantly Labor state premiers who imposed the harshest lockdowns.

The Inquiry found that pandemic mismanagement had undermined trust in government and, in turn, would make future pandemic responses difficult.  Quite rightly, Inquiry chair Robyn Kruk said Australians want the government to trust them too.  The first step to regaining trust is to have a proper – not politically motivated – inquiry and hold State Premiers fully accountable.

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