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The federal government will contribute to a new fund established by the World Bank to help prepare for future pandemics.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers and health minister Mark Butler made the commitment during addresses to a G20 meeting overnight, pledging that Australia would back the new financial intermediary fund.
While it has often been said that Covid-19 “doesn’t discriminate”, we all know our most vulnerable citizens were impacted most by both the health and economic damage of this awful virus. The G20’s collective action is important – and I urge all members and guests here today to continue to support Indonesia’s leadership in addressing systemic financing gaps for pandemic preparedness and response.
The pandemic has highlighted the weaknesses in the global health architecture and Covid-19 has also shown the disproportionate impact pandemics can have on the world’s most vulnerable.