Mattie McGrath warns of WHO power grab over pandemics
Deputy Mattie McGrath warned that proposed changes at the World Health Organisation could cede parliamentary powers over pandemic declarations and urged a House debate and clarification of government attendance. He said the WHO Assembly is meeting on the 22nd to the 28th and warned that an unelected official could declare a pandemic without a country's knowledge.
Assembly timetable and regulatory change
The World Health Organisation Assembly is meeting on the 22nd to the 28th, according to Deputy McGrath's remarks. He said the assembly may amend regulations that would affect national parliaments' authority over when a pandemic is called or when there is a national crisis.
Parliamentary oversight and questions for government
Deputy McGrath asked who from the government will attend the Assembly and formally requested a debate in the House to examine the implications. He framed the concern as whether elected parliaments are in danger of signing away their rights to the WHO.
Risk described - unelected decision-making
He argued that under the proposed changes one unelected person at the WHO could decide a pandemic exists in a country without that country's knowledge, presenting an accountability and sovereignty concern. McGrath described the situation as "most serious" and urged parliamentary scrutiny.
Ministerial response supporting WHO
A minister responding in the record said they are a strong supporter of the World Health Organisation and favoured enhancing its capacity to deal with pandemics. The minister added that the WHO is the body that calls a pandemic because some national governments may not declare one promptly or at all.
Reference to past challenges to WHO
The minister noted that attempts by the previous President of the United States, Donald Trump, to undermine the WHO during the last pandemic did not serve the world well. That point was made in the context of defending the WHO's role and urging international cooperation.
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The World Health Organisation Assembly is meeting on the 22nd to the 28th, which is next week, and if they amend the regulations, all powers for this parliament and other parliaments will be signed away in relation to when a pandemic is called or when there is a national crisis. So one person, unelected, if this happens, will be able to decide at the World Health Organisation that a pandemic is somewhere in some country without the country even knowing it. So I'm asking you, number one, are you attending and who from the government will be attending and number two, can we have a debate on this most serious situation here in this so-called accountable House of Parliament to the people, the electors, are we going to sign away all our rights to the WHO? Fourthly, Deputy McGrath raised the issue of the World Health Organisation. I happen to be a strong supporter of the World Health Organisation. I think we should enhance and increase its capacity to deal with pandemics. The World Health Organisation is the body that calls a pandemic. National governments don't call a pandemic for very good reason, because there are some governments in the world that would never call a pandemic even if one was blowing right through it. And I know that from previous experience, or put it this way, some are more tardy than others in terms of admitting what's going on. So I'm not shy at all in terms of pandemics, I wouldn't be. No, but seriously, the World Health Organisation, the one risk during the last pandemic was there were attempts made for the previous President of the United States, Donald Trump, to undermine the WHO. That didn't serve the world well. Sorry, we're waiting for 20 minutes. Sorry, we may go on. Oh sorry, I apologise. Can we do that? I would suggest next week, if that's possible. I can't. I'm looking at it, I just can't see it. The Liberal Party. You
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