What a public inquiry establishes
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A public inquiry is a formal investigation, often established by government, into a significant matter of public concern, such as a major failure of policy, a disaster, or serious allegations of misconduct within an institution, which is central to how the system actually works, though the practical effect can vary considerably.
Inquiries typically have powers to gather evidence, hear testimony from witnesses, and in some cases compel the production of documents, allowing them to build a detailed public record of what happened that would be difficult to assemble through ordinary channels, a point that becomes clearer in hindsight, a subtlety that rewards careful attention.
The final report of a public inquiry usually sets out findings and recommendations, and while these are not automatically binding, a well conducted inquiry can carry significant weight in shaping subsequent policy or institutional reform, which is one reason the subject remains contested, as a closer look usually confirms.