Brooke van Velden: Minister of Internal Affairs on the terms of reference for Phase 2 of the Covid-19 inquiry

The Government's confirmed its terms of reference for the second phase of the Covid-19 inquiry.  

Phase Two will cover matters of public interest like the use of vaccines and lockdowns.  

It will assess whether a reasonable balance was struck between health goals and social disruption and the economic impact of decisions.  

It's appointed Grant Illingworth KC chair, and Judy Kavanagh and Anthony Hill commissioners. 

Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden told Mike Hosking the three have experience across litigation, economics, and health.  

She says these broad skills are needed to look into the lessons we can learn for any future pandemic. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
The COVID Royal Commission. So we now got the terms
of reference for Phase two. Use of vaccines and lockdowns
will be investigated also whether a reasonable balance was struck
between public safety and economic disruption. The Internal Fairs Minister
Brook van Belden's in Chargeable Or Thisten.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
Is with us.

Speaker 1 (00:13):
Good morning, Mike Grant Illingworth, ca C Judith Kavanah and
Anthony Hill. Who are they and why do you pick them? Well?

Speaker 2 (00:21):
I picked some because I think they're all outstanding New
Zealanders who have a broad ranges specialization within a litigation.
Grant Illingworth Casey is a highly regarded being through all
aspects of the Privy Council, Supreme Court, Court of Appeal,
done lots of litigation cases and brings that skill set

(00:42):
to the table. Judy Kavana decades worth of experience in
economics and Anthony Hill huge experience in public health. And
this is the broad range of skills that should be
looking into what we should do from here to have
lessons learned for a future pandemic looking at the decisions
made by the previous government. Now, one thing I want

(01:04):
to make really clear is this is what an Act
campaigned on it's what we're now delivering, but it's been
based on what ki We's wanted, which was to expand
the terms of reference based on what we didn't believe
was adequately addressed in what's now Phase one of the
Commission looking into the vaccine mandates, which we know had
a huge detrimental impact of people who weren't able to

(01:27):
go to the family member's funerals for example, bit of work,
but also people concerned it what that impact had on
the idea children's education, being able to have business activity,
Whether or not we've got that balance right between people
not being able to get.

Speaker 1 (01:42):
Briceletted we didn't was we're living in the third recession
in two years, where one of the most hopeless economies
in the world. But here's your question when you talk
to them about a reasonable balance, define reasonable balance, and
that's what.

Speaker 2 (01:58):
The commissioners will have to weigh up. Were the decisions
that were taken by the government at the time based
on information that the government was presented, Did they use
that information or did they discard it? What was that
balance versus what other countries and jurisdictions were doing, and
whether or not they actually got it right. Now, I

(02:20):
know a lot of New Zealanders will say, no, we
didn't get it right. But what we're asking these three
commissioners to do is delve into the facts and come
up with recommendations for the future. They'll be independent, going
away for over a year, getting evidence, bringing submissions from
members of the public, who I hope we'll be able
to submit their thoughts on this inquiry too, and actually

(02:42):
come to the truth of the matter.

Speaker 1 (02:44):
Okay, super quick, is your labor reform going to sort
the Uber case and cases like it or not?

Speaker 2 (02:52):
But I can't talk about any particular case that might
be before the courts. But what we are clear on
is that even this court case has created on certainty
for contractors, buy and large in our economy. What I'm
hoping to do is create a bit of clarity between
what does that divide between an employee and a contractor,

(03:12):
so that businesses and workers can actually have more certainty
on those barriers.

Speaker 1 (03:17):
Good go well with Brook van Velden, Internal Affairs Minister.
For more from the My Asking Breakfast, listen live to
news talks that'd be from six am weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.