National, state responses must be included in any COVID-19 pandemic royal commission

Or is it just another means to play partisan politics to point the bone at its predecessor?

Understandably, states may be reluctant to have full and open scrutiny of their pandemic responses given some of the problems that occurred like the hotel quarantine scandal in Victoria, some enforcement measures, and the public funds wasted on places like Queensland's Wellcamp quarantine hub. Victoria and NSW governments will also be sensitive to any independent review given impending elections.

Of course, other countries have had a jump start on Australia in reviewing their responses to the pandemic and we could do well to learn from their experiences.

Sweden provides the best-practice example. Although adopting a different, less repressive approach to most other countries, Sweden was proactive by initiating at the beginning of the pandemic, an ongoing commission of inquiry to assess the government's responses during, as well as after, the pandemic. Over two years it released numerous interim reports, concluding with a two-volume final report.

Although largely endorsing Sweden's overall strategy, it was still forthcoming in highlighting some major flaws. Reforms are now under way.

Significantly, the Swedish inquiry had bipartisan support, was chaired by a Supreme Court judge who was joined by seven commissioners with expertise in policy, health, medicine, economics and even theology.

In the United Kingdom an independent inquiry has been appointed under the Inquiries Act 2005 and is chaired by a former senior judge, supported by 12 QCs and an advisory panel, and is now under way. It underwent an extensive public consultation process to determine its terms of reference to ensure it would be no whitewash.

The inquiry will cover government preparation and responses to the pandemic across the whole of the United Kingdom. Emphasis is being placed on considering "disparities evident in the impact of the pandemic on different categories of people", the "experiences of bereaved families" and to have "regard to international comparisons".

Sweden and the United Kingdom offer examples of what a proper, thought-out, comprehensive and very public inquiry into the pandemic looks like. It is time the Albanese government did the same.

Australia does need an independent review of our nation's responses to the pandemic - warts and all. Ultimately, the federal government has to take the lead. Given our federal system, the split in responsibilities between national and state governments, and the politics involved, setting up such an inquiry will not be easy.

But, that is what responsible government is all about, Prime Minister.