United States President Donald Trump will pull funding from the World Health Organization after criticising its coronavirus response but Australia will not follow suit.
Mr Trump told a press conference he was instructing his administration to halt funding while "a review is conducted to assess the World Health Organization's role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus".
However, federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on Wednesday said Australia would not do the same, over Chinese wet markets in recent days.
"We see the World Health Organization playing an important role, particularly in our region and that's important to Australia," Mr Frydenberg told reporters.
"That's not to say we don't disagree with them from time to time."
According to Mr Trump, the WHO prevented transparency over the outbreak and the United States - the UN body's biggest funder which provided $400 million last year - will now "discuss what we do with all that money that goes to the WHO."
"With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have deep concerns whether America's generosity has been put to the best use possible."
Mr Trump's decision drew immediate condemnation. American Medical Association President Dr Patrice Harris called it “a dangerous step in the wrong direction that will not make defeating COVID-19 easier” and urged Trump to reconsider.
It is "not the time to reduce the resources for the operations of the World Health Organization or any other humanitarian organisation in the fight against the virus," United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Tuesday.
"It is my belief that the World Health Organization must be supported, as it is absolutely critical to the world's efforts to win the war against COVID-19," Mr Guterres said.
'Political correctness above life-saving measures'
Mr Trump's attack on the WHO reflects his belief that the organisation is biased toward China and colluded to prevent the United States' main economic rival from having to be open about the unfolding health disaster.
He says this cost other countries crucial time to prepare and delayed decisions to stop international travel.
"The WHO's attack on travel restrictions put political correctness above life-saving measures," he said.
"Had the WHO done its job to get medical experts into China to objectively assess the situation on the ground and to call out China's lack of transparency, the outbreak could have been contained at its source with very little death."
"This would have saved thousands of lives and avoided worldwide economic damage. Instead, the WHO willingly took China's assurances to face value... and defended the actions of the Chinese government," Mr Trump said.
Critics have pointed out that for weeks after the coronavirus epidemic began unfolding, Mr Trump frequently praised Beijing's response and downplayed the danger it posed at home.
The US death toll from COVID-19, according to a running Reuters tally.
Since Mr Trump took office, he has quit the UN Human Rights Council, the UN cultural agency UNESCO, a global accord to tackle climate change and the Iran nuclear deal and opposed a UN migration pact.
US President Donald Trump during his daily COVID-19 briefing. Source: AAP
The Trump administration cut funding in 2017 for the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN agency that helps Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) in 2018 and put on hold its contribution to the UN’s aviation agency last year.
Under the WHO’s 2018-19 biennium budget, the United States was required to pay US$237 million - known as an assessed contribution, which is appropriated by Congress - and also made some US$656 million in voluntary contributions that were tied to specific programs.
According to the WHO website, China’s contribution for 2018-2019 was almost US$76 million in assessed contributions and some US$10 million in voluntary funding.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others and gatherings are limited to two people unless you are with your family or household.
If you believe you may have contracted the virus, call your doctor (don’t visit) or contact the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080. If you are struggling to breathe or experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.
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