Opinion

The danger of COVID zealots has not passed

The proposed new Australian Centres for Disease Control is open to the same ideological capture that plagued its US counterpart.

Nick CoatsworthFormer deputy chief health officer

Oct 30, 2024 – 4.51pm

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The authors of the COVID-19 inquiry deserve commendation for their comprehensive investigation and evaluation of Australia’s pandemic response. However, a word of caution: interpreting this report as a “report card” for federal and state pandemic performance would miss its most crucial point.

The real focus should be interrogating the role and responsibilities of the $250 million Australian Centre for Disease Control initiative.

Nick Coatsworth was the Deputy Chief Health Office of Australia during the pandemic.