COVID-19 Fallout: Inquiry Reveals Crumbling Public Trust

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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.