From Defence Minister Maris Payne:
Australia has made a principled call for an independent review of the COVID-19 outbreak, an unprecedented global crisis with severe health, economic and social impacts.
This would be undertaken at an appropriate time, fully acknowledging that many countries are continuing to deal with the challenges of the virus.
A transparent and honest assessment of events will be critical as we emerge from the pandemic and learn important lessons to improve our response in the future.
We hope all members of the WHO would co-operate in such an effort, including to strengthen the WHO’s role in responding effectively to a pandemic.
We reject any suggestion that economic coercion is an appropriate response to a call for such an assessment, when what we need is global co-operation.
Backed by Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong:
I’d make the point that the Chinese ambassador spoke about not wanting to resort to recrimination, division and suspicion and what I’d say is that’s precisely why we are supporting a call for an independent inquiry into the origin of the virus.
I would say this: Australia has to assert its national interest. We have to press what is right, what we believe is right, for us and for the international community, and making sure that humanity understands how this virus started is the right thing to do.
“Principled”. CCP has never heard that word before. Good job.
