COVID-19, the health sector and Australia's international relations

THE health system will be the focus of the first public hearing of the inquiry on the impact of COVID-19 on Australia’s Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade. 

Witnesses from pharmaceutical company IDT, and peak body the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association, will give evidence on the impacts on the healthcare sector of the pandemic.

Senator David Fawcett, Chair of the JSCFADT, emphasised the importance of the healthcare system to Australia’s national resilience. 

"Australia’s health system is both domestically critical and sensitive to disruption in international supply chains," Senator Fawcett said. 

"Hearing more about the impact of the pandemic is a logical first step in this inquiry, which aims to develop ongoing effective national framework to ensure the resilience required to underpin Australia’s economic and strategic objectives."

Full terms of reference for the inquiry are on the Committee website. Submissions can be made until June 30, 2020.

Public hearing details:

Date: Thursday, 25 June 2020
Time: 3.30pm – 4.30pm AEST 
Location: By teleconference

The hearings will be audio streamed live at aph.gov.au/live.

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