Australians' human rights were overlooked in governmental COVID-19 responses, a new report reveals, with experts saying the country isn't prepared for its next health emergency.
Domestic violence victims, renters, casual workers and at-risk groups bore the brunt of the COVID-19 response, according to a Human Rights Commission report released on Tuesday.
This is based on the experiences of 5000 Australians affected by border closures, school disruptions, vaccine mandates, lockdowns, quarantine and other heath restrictions.
The report detailed a series of traumatic experiences, including a woman forced to give birth to her stillborn son alone because her husband was refused entry to the hospital and denied any chance of holding him.
Others included a man dressed up in a suit to watch his father's funeral from his kitchen table, an ovarian cancer patient unable to see her surgeon on the other side of a state border closure and a domestic violence victim left alone with her abuser as loved ones were unable to check in on her.
The report drew attention to the disproportionate impact restrictions had on families unable to say goodbye to their dying loved ones and residents of public housing towers subject to a "severe" lockdown in Melbourne in 2021.
That extended to those with a disability, First Nations Australians and migrant communities who faced barriers accessing services or essential information.
Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay said while Australia's pandemic response saved lives, it came at a significant cost.
She urged governments to strike a balance between individual freedoms and health responses in future disasters.
"We heard devastating stories of severe economic hardship, families unable to say goodbye to loved ones, women trapped in violent households, and communities left isolated due to blanket policies that failed to consider local realities," Ms Finlay said.
"These experiences should never be ignored or repeated."
Governments have been urged to adopt a currently developed Emergency Response Framework that constantly reviews responses, balances risk with compassion, tailors communication, avoids abruptly withdrawing support and meaningful consultation with vulnerable groups.
Five years since the World Health Organisation declared COVID-19 a pandemic, infectious diseases experts warn Australia is "grossly unprepared" for the next health emergency.
"Although overall Australia did well, we can't afford to forget the challenges we faced and lessons we learnt," Public Health Association of Australia chief executive Terry Slevin said.
"Many fear we are less, not more prepared for a similar outbreak should it occur now."
The group is calling on the next federal government to establish a permanent Centre for Disease Control and invest in prevention.
Professor of Infectious Diseases at Monash University Allen Cheng said changes need to be implemented to avoid future chaos.
"It's a matter of when, not if, the next health emergency will occur. It is vital that we move to a permanent and properly resourced CDC as soon as possible," he said.
Disaster response measures do not operate in a vacuum, Ms Findlay said, and the full human impact of Australia's approach to the pandemic must be understood so the nation is better prepared for future emergencies.
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