Australia has requested an independent investigation into the global management of the coronavirus pandemic. The action of the World Health Organization (WHO) also has to be put to the test, Foreign Minister Marise Payne told public broadcaster ABC today. In addition, the Chinese government’s crisis management must be examined at the beginning of the outbreak. The Australian government wants details on the origin of the virus, how to deal with the pandemic and transparency in the disclosure of information.
US President Donald Trump recently accused the WHO of „mismanagement“ in the coronavirus crisis and announced the end of US payments to the UN agency. The US President’s move has generated criticism worldwide. Trump also accused China of obscuring the true extent of the crisis at the beginning.
Concerns about WHO
Payne said Australia shared these concerns. She was „not sure“ whether the WHO should lead the required review. „It seems to me that you make the goat a gardener,“ said the minister. Australia has managed to curb the spread of the virus in the country because it has sometimes failed to follow WHO recommendations, Health Minister Greg Hunt said. Australia had been one of the first countries in the world to ban travelers from China.
This was „considerably“ criticized by the WHO, but it helped the country, Hunt said. WHO’s approach to fighting diseases such as polio, measles and malaria was good, but dealing with the coronavirus pandemic „has not helped the world,“ added Hunt.
