WHO Pandemic Treaty Will Not Take Away Australia’s Sovereignty, Government Says

The claim that Australia will lose its sovereignty under the pandemic treaty has been allayed for now after the government confirmed it will retain agency over its own policy decisions. Under questioning from One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts during a Senate hearing, members from the Department of Health and Aged Care said the World Health Organisation had no legal authority to force member states to adopt any of its recommendations. “Australia has its own sovereignty in regards to making policy decisions around health for Australians and our borders. I don’t think I can be any clearer,” Malarndirri McCarthy of the Australian Labor Party, representing the Department, told the Senate Estimates on Feb. 15....