This month, the Australian Human Rights Commission unveiled their report titled Collateral Damage, examining human rights amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing from over 5,000 individual accounts, this document serves as a sobering evaluation of Australia’s response to the virus through a human rights lens. It reveals a fundamental oversight: the pandemic policies failed to adequately protect the rights of many Australians, who felt neglected in the rush to control COVID-19.
Though Australia is perceived as having had a successful pandemic response due to low mortality and steady economic performance, the human toll cannot be ignored. Many individuals voiced feelings of being collateral damage in the government’s urgent actions against the pandemic. Critics claim the AHRC’s findings come too late, suggesting a lack of earlier action regarding human rights concerns during the past five years.
The AHRC, albeit powerful, has notable limitations. The Commission lacks prosecutorial authority and cannot compel government actions—factors that were evident during the pandemic. Calls for legal action, direct interventions, or compensation from state governments could lead the AHRC to overstep its boundaries, which must be carefully preserved.
The report deliberately emphasises personal narratives, establishes human rights principles, and looks to the future. It aims to ensure such oversights are not repeated, forming part of an ongoing endeavour to create a human rights-focused emergency response framework. The Commission’s findings present an opportunity to work within its mandate and avoid duplicating efforts already underway.
Since assuming his role in November 2021, Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay has persistently voiced concern over pandemic measures limiting citizens’ rights. She has pressed for a Royal Commission to holistically investigate the pandemic response and has contributed significantly to debates on the matter. Notably, the Commission documented 14,341 inquiries and 3,135 complaints linked to COVID-19, highlighting the dramatic rise in reported human rights violations.
The impetus for the Collateral Damage report stemmed from the initial promise of a Royal Commission that was never realised. Thus, the AHRC opted to independently scrutinise the pandemic’s human rights implications. This report represents the culmination of that examination, focusing on the lived experiences of Australians rather than assigning blame.
While exploring vaccination policies, the report, grounded in human rights principles, avoids medical judgement, concentrating instead on the impact of mandates on individuals. It notes that opinions on such topics vary greatly among Australians, and addressing these divides is crucial for future responses.
Constructive dialogue is essential for healing and progression, especially as frustrations linger from the pandemic. While criticism of the report’s timing exists, it is vital to recognise the experiences and lessons it contains to prevent the repetition of past mistakes in future crises.
The Australian Human Rights Commission’s report *Collateral Damage* evaluates the human rights implications of COVID-19 responses in Australia. It highlights that the pandemic measures overlooked individual rights, amidst calls for accountability and urgent change. While some critics deem the findings late, the report aims to ensure that human rights are prioritised in future emergencies based on real-life stories and perspectives of Australians.
In summary, the *Collateral Damage* report by the AHRC is a pivotal document that highlights overlooked human rights issues arising from Australia’s COVID-19 response. While its conclusions may come years after the pandemic began, the report emphasises the importance of individual stories and future preparedness. With ongoing calls for better human rights integration in emergency responses, it serves as a crucial learning tool for governance and community dialogue moving forward.
Original Source: humanrights.gov.au
