Statement On Covid Response Report

“Any inquiry is only as good and valuable as its terms of reference allow. This inquiry was designed from the outset to not answer the hard and pertinent questions we need answered,” Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the national employer association Ai Group said today.

“To not look at the role of the states, whose unilateral and uncoordinated responses caused so much economic and emotional damage across the economy and the community, was a clear attempt to sweep their culpability under the carpet.

“The inquiry undoubtedly did as well as it could with the narrow tools it was given. From a business perspective, we will look to work with governments to take its recommendations on board.

“However, in the name of transparency and better policy making, this should not be the end of the matter. A Royal Commission to look at what worked, what didn’t and what lessons should be learnt is still as necessary as ever,” Mr Willox said.

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