We are each trying to do our best to keep ourselves and others as safe and healthy as possible, and for many this comes with considerable personal sacrifice.
At this point in time the health and well-being of TIA staff is our priority. Based on the most recent advice, the TIA office will therefore be temporarily closed from Tuesday 24 March-Friday 3 April, at which time the situation will be reviewed. All staff with be working remotely during this time period, with the team remaining contactable via email or telephone.
During an environment of unprecedented pressure and uncertainty, there is of course a high risk that public decisions will be captured or distorted by vested private interests for their own gain. This is why today and in the coming months, political decision-making must be as open, evidence-based and transparent as possible.
What world will we step back into? Will we see that our government has responded as effectively as possible to the twin challenges of the health and economic crises? Is there a risk that emergency powers will help us over the short term, but harm us over the long term?
We need to protect people’s lives and we need to sustain the health of our democracy. For that, we need transparency.
Photos by CDC and Dimitri Karastelev on Unsplash