Prof Catherine Bennett and federal health minister say outcomes to be probed despite terms of reference excluding unilateral state and territory decisions
The impact of lockdowns, border closures and school shutdowns during the pandemic will be examined by the federal government’s Covid-19 inquiry, one of the independent panel members insists.
Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup The independent panel comprises Bennett, experienced public servant Robyn Kruk and health economist Angela Jackson. They will work with a taskforce being set up within the prime minister’s department.
Bennett said in the early stages of the pandemic governments used the “precautionary principle” – putting measures in place to save lives while waiting for evidence.Our Australian afternoon update breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what’s happening and why it mattersIt was about “understanding the broader impacts on health, on individual wellbeing, and importantly, on particular populations, often the most disadvantaged already.
The federal health minister, Mark Butler, said last week that the people who suffered from border and school closures and curfews would have their stories heard.
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