The NSW Council for Civil Liberties (NSWCCL) has submitted a statement to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee regarding the proposed COVID-19 Royal Commission. We highlighted existing efforts by a three-member panel appointed in 2023 to inquire into the government's response to COVID-19 and emphasized the need to prevent duplicative work. We recommended considering alternative methods to address misinformation without the need for a Royal Commission.

1. The NSW Council for Civil Liberties (NSWCCL) welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee in regard to the terms of reference for a proposed Covid-19 Royal Commission.
2. The NSW Council for Civil Liberties notes that the Prime Minister has in 2023 appointed a 3 member panel to conduct a Commonwealth Government COVID-19 Response Inquiry.
3. It would obviously be desirable, so as to avoid duplication and inefficiency, for any Royal Commission to not duplicate the terms of reference of that Inquiry1.
4. One matter which is clearly not dealt with in the Government Inquiry, is the extent to which public health interests were adversely affected by misinformation about COVID disseminated by Senator Roberts and people associated or aligned with his views.
5. NSWCCL considers that there could be utility in holding a public inquiry into appropriate means for protecting the public from misleading information which adversely affects public health interests.
6. NSWCCL notes that the government has proposed legislation to provide a mechanism for addressing misleading and deceptive information being spread online. For various reasons, NSWCCL considers that the proposed legislation is unlikely to have any significant impact.
7. Accordingly, there is scope for an inquiry to look into means of protecting the public from misleading information in an effective way.
8. NSWCCL does not consider that such an inquiry should be in the nature of a Royal Commission.
9. Accordingly, NSWCCL submits that the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee should determine that it is not appropriate for a Royal Commission to be held in respect of the COVID-19 pandemic.