PM Scott Morrison backs COVID-19 inquiry, urges all countries to share vaccine
Canberra: Scott Morrison is standing firm on his calls for the independent investigation into coronavirus to look at its origins and urged all nations to share a vaccine once it is proven.
The Australian Prime Minister took to the virtual stage yesterday addressing the 75th United Nations general assembly, praising the World Health Organisation for establishing an inquiry into the global response to coronavirus.
“There is also a clear mandate to identify the zoonotic source of the COVID-19 virus and how it was transmitted to humans,” he said. “This virus has inflicted a calamity on our world and its peoples. We must do all we can to understand what happened for no other purpose than to prevent it from happening again.”
The inquiry resolution backed by 145 countries in May does not mention China, instead committing to an impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation of the pandemic.
China eventually supported the European Union motion.
Ties between the two nations have since been fraught, with tariffs being imposed on some goods and Australian journalists being evacuated from China.
Mr Morrison urged other leaders to share a coronavirus vaccine if they discover one, as the United States resists global efforts to collaborate on a vaccine. He has previously said if Australia found a vaccine, it would be shared across the world.
“When it comes to a vaccine, Australia’s view is very clear - whoever finds the vaccine must share it,” Mr Morrison said.
“This is a global responsibility and it’s a moral responsibility for a vaccine to be shared far and wide. Some might see short-term advantage or even profit, but I assure you, to anyone who may think along those lines - humanity will have a very long memory and be a very, very severe judge.”