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Theleafyside's avatar

Dear Libby, thanks so much for sending out this latest version!

Keeping "non-binding", in relation to standing and temporary recommendations, is better. Although, as you have pointed out, our Government is already able to fully implement all WHO recommendations (with a few extra measures of their own thrown in!). Also, clarifying a pandemic as "infectious" is useful to prevent it applying to anything and everything.

IMO, the major point of contention for the Australian Government would be the cost of implementing these regulations and providing "equivalent" funding to developing countries for facilities and medications - substantial additional budget would need to be allocated to cover this. The JSCOT committee does include Treasury representation and I would think that they would need ballpark costings for all this. (I notice that the word "audit" does not appear in the text of the IHR, so the WHO and developing countries may not need to account for how they spend this?). Ultimately all these extra taxpayer $$ represent a huge new market opportunity to the corporations building the facilities and supplying the drugs!

The new "National IHR Authority" looks to be, effectively, setting up a local WHO presence in each country, funded by the local country, with the sole aim of implementing the WHO's recommendations. Each country is also obliged to implement domestic laws to allow the IHR Authority to implement regulations:

Article 4

1.bis The National IHR Authority shall coordinate the implementation of these Regulations within the territory of the State Party.

2. bis States Parties shall take measures to implement paragraphs 1, 1. bis, and 2 of this Article, including, as necessary, by allocating human and financial resources [, DEL ] and adjusting their [national law DEL ] [domestic legislative and administrative arrangements ] in accordance with paragraph 3 of Article 59.

Article 59 paragraph 3

If a State is not able to adjust its domestic legislative and administrative arrangements fully with these Regulations within the period set out in paragraph 2 of this Article, that State shall submit within the period specified in paragraph 1 of this Article a declaration to the Director-General regarding the outstanding adjustments and achieve them no later than 12 months after the entry into force of these Regulations for that State Party.

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Judy Soper's avatar

Very interesting assessment Libby.

It is very concerning that our Public health officials and weak health ministers have no regard for their citizens freedom and ability to judge the risks for themselves.

It is extraordinary and very disheartening that the UK Covid enquiry seems to be coming up with bizarre conclusion that they should have locked down harder for longer.

They seem to have ignored Sweden’s success. Keep up the excellent work. Thank you.

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