The inquiry reviewed the Commonwealth Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic to identify lessons learned to improve Australia’s preparedness for future pandemics. The inquiry heard a recognition that Australia was one of the most successful countries in its pandemic response and yet, like other countries, was not adequately prepared for a pandemic.

The report examines the national experience of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, both in terms of our preparedness and across the four ‘phases’ – alert; suppression; vaccine rollout; and transition/recovery.

The report includes nine guiding recommendations that are aligned with nine pillars of a successful pandemic response. The report identifies 19 immediate actions for the next 12-18 months, and a further seven medium-term actions prior to the next national health emergency. 

Guiding recommendations

1. Ensure decision-making processes in a pandemic fully account for the broader health, economic and social impacts of decisions, and the changing level and nature of risk to inform escalation and de-escalation of the response to minimise harm.
2. Develop and regularly stress-test preparedness and a national response to a pandemic that covers the broader health, economic and social response and fully harnesses capability and resources across governments, academia, industry and the community sector.
3. Ensure the rapid mobilisation of a national governance structure for leaders to collaborate and support a national response that reflects health, social, economic and equity priorities.
4. Ensure systems are in place for rapid and transparent evidence collection, synthesis and evaluation.
5. Build, value and maintain capability, capacity and readiness across people, structures and systems.
6. Maintain formal structures that include a wide range of community and business representatives, and leverage these in a pandemic response alongside the use of temporary structures.
7. Rebuild and maintain trust between government and the community including by considering impacts on human rights.
8. Ensure pandemic support measures include all residents, regardless of visa status, prioritise cohorts at greater risk, and include them in the design and delivery of targeted supports.
9. Build and maintain coordinated national public health emergency communication mechanisms to deliver timely, tailored and effective communications, utilising strong regional, local and community connections.