"It is a very detailed piece of work and our support has been all focused on making sure we achieve the most productive outcome, which is the comprehensive, impartial independent review," Senator Payne said in Sydney on Monday.

"To have been able to work with the EU and many others in support of this resolution has been a important series of steps to bring us today."

The 73^rd World Health Assembly, the governing body for the World Health Organisation, is meeting virtually this week, with more than 110 countries co-sponsoring a motion for an independent inquiry calling for an impartial and comprehensive evaluation of the response to the virus.

The African group's 54 member states will co-sponsor the motion, joining 62 other countries including Russia, Indonesia, India, Japan, Britain and Canada.

The European Union's 27 members are all on board, along with Brazil, South Korea, Mexico, Turkey and New Zealand.

The draft resolution calls for impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation of the international response to the pandemic.

Senator Payne said the government had been encouraged by the growing level of support for the motion, which would ensure lessons were learnt and a pandemic of similar scale wouldn't happen again.

According to the motion the investigation will be undertaken within existing World Health Organisation structures, but Senator Payne said the nature of investigation will be determined after the resolution is dealt with.

It doesn't mention China, but Australia's push for the inquiry has angered Beijing, which has threatened a huge tariff on barley and blocked some beef imports.

Senator Payne said Australia wasn't in a trade war with China, even though other ministers have struggled to make contact with their Chinese counterparts.

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Health Minister Greg Hunt will represent Australia at the virtual World Health Assembly meeting on Monday night. A vote is expected in the early hours of Tuesday.