COVID-19 INQUIRY: Late Pandemic Response ‘Disproportionate to the Risk’: Qantas

Arriving passengers scan the arrival registration QR codes at the Qantas Domestic terminal on February 05, 2022 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Major airline Qantas has voiced concerns regarding the Australia government’s response to the latter stages of the pandemic, deeming it “disproportionate” to the risk as public sentiment shifted, variants weakened, and vaccination rates increased.

In a submission to the Australian government’s COVID-19 response inquiry, the airline indicated it agreed with the response early in the pandemic given the virus was unknown.

However, Qantas believes there were unintended consequences of applying the same measures later on.

The government has received more than 2,000 submissions to its inquiry, which aims to identify lessons and improve Australia’s preparation for “future pandemics.”

Qantas noted the response from governments around the world “varied substantially,” both across countries and within countries.

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The airline expressed Australia employed strict public health measures to limit disease spread including “border closures, enforced quarantine, and lockdowns.”

“These measures had initial success in limiting COVID-19 case numbers and deaths, particularly compared to the rest of the world. Australia’s success relied on its advantages, including as an island nation, the ability to close and enforce international borders, a strong economic and fiscal position, and citizens that broadly trusted the government.”

Qantas said early measures were appropriate given the limited knowledge of the virus and no vaccine approved by the Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA).

“However, as subsequent COVID-19 variants weakened, public sentiment shifted and COVID-19 vaccination rates increased later in the pandemic, applying the same containment measures resulted in new unintended consequences and in many cases, was disproportionate to the risk,” Qantas said in a submission (pdf) signed off by Chief Health and Safety Officer Dr. Ian Hosegood.

Impact of Ongoing Travel Bans

While acknowledging Australia’s early success in lowering the case numbers and deaths, Qantas noted that prolonged domestic border closures, even after widespread vaccination, negatively impacted businesses.

“Australia’s international border closure was largely effective in reducing Australia’s infection rate in the early stages of the pandemic,” Qantas said.

“But the ‘long tail' of domestic border closures, even once the majority of the population was vaccinated, was unnecessarily destructive to businesses and the community, and was directly contrary to the World Health Organisation’s advice against ongoing travel bans.”

Inconsistency Between States

The airline also raised issues with the discrepancies between how different states and territories responded during the pandemic.

“One of the defining features of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia was the inconsistency of the policy response across the states and territories and the acute implications of this variation for businesses operating across domestic borders, including aviation,” Qantas said.

“The patchwork of border controls, exemptions, and entry pass systems made the COVID-19 pandemic extremely difficult for businesses that continued to deliver essential services between states and territories throughout this period, with conditions and requirements for ‘essential workers’ not often being considered until well after the imposed requirements, causing significant confusion and disrupt to organisations in this category.”

Qantas said it brought home more than 30,000 Australians from overseas on more than 400 repatriation flights during COVID-19.

The airline also carried thousands of tonnes of air freight including COVID-19 vaccines, medical equipment, and aid.

Further, the national carrier acknowledged the “significant assistance” provided by the Commonwealth government to the aviation industry during the pandemic.

The inquiry panel said it has been “overwhelmed” by the openness and willingness of more than 2,000 people and organisations to share their insights and experiences.

“There was a common theme in the submissions of wanting to capture the lessons learned, before they were lost to the passage of time,” the panel said.

“Four years on since the start of the pandemic, as a panel, we share that sense of importance and urgency to better prepare for a future event.”

‘Lack of Coordination’ Between Governments Challenging: Australian and International Pilots Association

Meanwhile, the Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA) representing over 2,300 flight crew has drawn attention to the impact of states and territories on its members.

The AIPA noted the aviation industry bore “one of the most significant impacts” from COVID-19 shutdowns and restrictions.

“While acknowledging that the Terms of Reference (TOR) exclude the effects of unilateral actions by states and territories, these actions profoundly affected our members,” the AIPA said (pdf).

“Poor coordination of COVID safety requirements and border closures imposed an unnecessary burden on aircrew.”

“Lack of coordination between the Commonwealth, states, and territory governments made it challenging to operate aircraft interstate and overseas, dealing with varying health and quarantine requirements.”

The pilots association said international ports, “particularly in China” implemented “draconian regulations” on aircrews.

Further, the association noted that there is now a shortage of experienced pilots, something that won’t be resolved in the short term.

“The industry, across the board, is losing its appeal, making employee attraction more challenging. The only short-term solution involves higher costs,” AIPA said.

To address these issues, the AIPA recommended that the states and territories in Australia need to set up coordinated systems for common data monitoring to prepare for another pandemic, and improve health and medical services.

Further, it recommended establishing global protocols for agreement on national border closures.