ACT is calling for the Government to open the inquiry into its COVID-19 response to public submissions to allow Kiwis to have their say on what's being investigated.
Last year, the Government announced a probe into the health and economic response to the pandemic.
The inquiry is being chaired by epidemiologist Professor Tony Blakely alongside former National Party minister Hekia Parata and ex-Treasury Secretary John Whitehead. It is expected to conclude in mid-2024 and then a report will be prepared to help inform the Government's future pandemic response.
On Friday, just weeks out from the election, ACT questioned why the Government excluded key questions about the impact of its response on the wider society. The party said while the Royal Commission is independent, it noted the Government set the terms of reference.
"One of the key problems of our COVID-19 response was a failure to take an overall wellbeing response - weighing up all the costs and benefits of major decisions. But investigating how the Government's response affected education, business, and mental health has been ruled out," ACT said in a press release.
"The terms of reference say the inquiry can consider whether the elimination strategy was effective in limiting the spread of infection but not its impact on wider aspects of human wellbeing. That is completely wrong."
ACT said these matters should be investigated and has called for public submissions on the terms of reference. It is proposing allowing New Zealanders six weeks to make submissions on what they believe should be investigated.
"New Zealanders could have had their voices heard as part of the Royal Commission process but they have been shut out of decision-making again," ACT said.
The Royal Commission should not be "politicised" or restricted in what it can investigate, ACT said.
"We literally can't afford to repeat what we went through, so we all need a frank assessment of how to do it better."
