Fault lines: An independent review into Australia’s response to COVID-19’, is the first independent review of Australia’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The review has found that key groups were excluded from financial support, some lockdowns and border closures were avoidable and schools should have remained open. It sounds a warning to governments against the perils of overreach when dealing with future health crises. Low socio-economic families, women, children, aged care residents, people with disabilities, temporary migrants, multicultural communities, and others already experiencing disadvantage bore the brunt of the pandemic.
Funded by the Paul Ramsay Foundation, the Minderoo Foundation and the John and Myriam Wylie Foundation, the independent review was chaired by Peter Shergold AC, with a panel comprising Jillian Broadbent AC, Isobel Marshall and Peter Varghese AO. The e61 Institute supported the panel through providing substantial research, data analysis, policy analysis and leading an extensive consultation process.