An Important News Australia

Australia hails global support for independent coronavirus investigation

Australia’s foreign minister insists a motion that has won support from more than 120 countries will pave the way for an impartial, independent and comprehensive investigation into the handling of the Covid-19 outbreak.

Facing criticism from some hawkish Coalition backbenchers that the motion to go to the World Health Assembly on Monday night had been “watered down”, Marise Payne described the growing global backing for a review as “a win for the international community”.

Australia has been one of the most vocal and early advocates of an independent investigation into the origins and early handling of the coronavirus outbreak, a stance that has attracted strong pushback from China, which claimed it was a political “manoeuvre” against Beijing.

Australian exporters are nervously awaiting a decision, due on Tuesday, on whether China will proceed with a plan to impose steep tariffs on barley, with key Australian ministers reporting they have struggled to secure phone calls with their Chinese counterparts.

But China has been noticeably less critical of the European Union’s attempt to marshal support for its motion to the WHA which, among other things, proposes a review of lessons learned.