ACT government will resist royal commission calls

Moreover, even those established to respond to allegations of wrongdoing like the recent royal commissions into banking and the later aged care while unearthing scandals also reset the policy direction, administrative arrangements and resolved competing truths about issues. Indeed, the aged care royal commission proposed, somewhat controversially, new spending and staffing levels which governments have been reluctant to ignore.

While there are legitimate concerns about royal commission costs that all depends on their membership and processes. Costs can be contained. That is up to the appointing government to resolve.

In the end, appointing a royal commission is decided only by executive government whose actions are ultimately driven by politics - in other words is it more politically damaging to have an inquiry than to resist one. That decision is affected by the overall standing of the government and its confidence to withstand public concern, media agitation, and the seriousness of the issues.

So, in this case don't hold your breath for a royal commission into ACT's health system, but further exposure of mistakes, can cause government to change its mind. It does happen.