The Human Rights Law Centre welcomed the Senate’s vote today to establish a cross-party Senate Select Committee to provide democratic oversight and scrutiny of the Morrison Government’s response to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

The Select Senate Committee will provide a vital avenue for civil society groups and individuals to provide information to inform Government decision-making and feedback on the impact of the decisions being made, so that no one is left behind and no one is left in the dark.

With the Federal Government asking Australians to make extraordinary sacrifices, trust and confidence in leadership has never been more important. 

Alice Drury, Senior Lawyer at the Human Rights Law Centre, says commitment from the Government to transparent decision-making and parliamentary scrutiny is essential.

“This move by the Senate to impose democratic oversight over the many decisions the Government is making will be reassuring to all Australians, who have seen monumental changes to their lives and freedoms. We can have confidence in leadership only when decisions are transparent, open to constructive scrutiny, and responsive to the changing needs of our communities.”

A Select Senate Committee is just part of the solution however – it’s vital that Australia’s regular parliamentary processes continue. The Australian Parliament must sit, in a way that is safe, so it can make decisions rapidly as the pandemic unfolds. 

“As millions of Australians have gone to great effort to plan and make arrangements to work remotely, our elected politicians should do the same. We need regular Parliament processes back in place as soon as possible,” Drury said.

The Human Rights Law Centre, together with 7 other legal and civil society organisations, called for a Senate Select Committee last week.

Media contact:

Michelle Bennett, Communications Director, Human Rights Law Centre, 0419 100 519