A major takeout from the inquiry into the national response to COVID is that a lack of trust would likely mean a less cooperative public during a future pandemic. Trust spiked early in the crisis, as fear ran high and people turned to known institutions and authority figures. Later, trust declined and frustrations rose, with people reacting against harsh measures.

Justice Issues. Timely delivery of justice is not just a legal ideal; it's a societal necessity. In Canada, however, this ideal is increasingly out of reach due to mounting court and tribunal backlogs.[The Canadian justice system has long grappled with delays, but recent figures underscore a crisis of unprecedented proportions.

Australia's COVID vaccine roll-out started slowly, with supply shortages and logistical shortcomings. Once it got going, we immunised more than 95% of the population. This week's COVID inquiry report contains a number of recommendations to improve Australia's vaccine preparedness the next time we face a pandemic or health emergency.