Australian Senate Passes Motion Calling for Inquiry Into Excess Mortality

The Senate has voted in favour of a call for an inquiry into excess deaths. This does not create a committee to hold such an inquiry, or refer the matter to one—but it is, however, symbolic of growing disquiet among politicians over the issue. The motion, moved by United Australia Party Senator Ralph Babet, passed by 31 to 30 on Feb. 26, with Labour and the Greens opposed. Senator Babet had previously asked the Senate to investigate excess mortality in Australia in March last year, but couldn’t find majority support. The motion required the Senate to acknowledge “that  the concerning number of excess deaths observed in Australia in 2021 and 2022 has continued into 2023 as evidenced by all-cause provisional mortality data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics” and that there was “a need for further inquiry as to the reasons for these excess deaths.”...