MEDIA STATEMENT: Senate Select Committee inquiry into COVID-19

MEDIA STATEMENTSenator James PatersonLiberal Senator for Victoria Wednesday 08 April 2020 2020Senate Select Committee inquiry into COVID-19Senator James Paterson will be the government’s nominee as deputy chair of the Senate Select Committee into the response to COVID-19.The Senate Committee will be chaired by Labor Senator Katy Gallagher. In the absence of parliamentary sittings due to the COVID-19 crisis, the opposition and government have agreed that the Committee is the appropriate mechanism to scrutinise the government’s response and expenditure.“Parliamentary scrutiny remains important in times of crisis. Given the extraordinary measures governments have been required to implement to tackle COVID-19, it is more important than ever before. I look forward to playing my role in that process on behalf of all Australians,” says Senator Paterson.Senator Perin Davey will be the other Senator representing the Coalition in the Committee.The Committee will table its report no later than June 30, 2022.Senator Paterson also chairs the Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee and the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services.ENDS