Bill to Establish Inquiry Into COVID-19 Response Fails in Australian Senate

United Australia Party Senator Ralph Babet, who urged the Senate to establish a Commission of Inquiry into the government response to the COVID-19 pandemic, has criticised Liberal and Labor senators who voted against his motion. The motion lost 26 votes to 10, with the Liberal Party split over the issue. If passed, the inquiry would have had the same powers and independence as a royal commission. “The Senate has overwhelmingly voted to protect COVID-era secrets, to protect incompetence, and protect those who inflicted human rights abuses on their fellow citizens,” Babet said. “Australians deserve to know the truth about what went on behind closed doors during the pandemic. Civil liberties were trashed, businesses were destroyed, children’s education was ruined, sports were banned, people died alone, lives were lost and families were broken up....