Having worked in politics for a long time, as a ministerial adviser to an attorney-general, a premier and several ministers, you learn one thing for sure: governments will always do what is politically popular to get reelected.
“What are the polls saying?” is a common cry, be they comprehensive opinion polls in the lead-up to an election, or small focus groups throughout the term. And governments always love a crisis, because they can call an emergency cabinet meeting, perhaps give it a fancy name (e.g. “Operation Cobra”) and make decisions in the national interest.
It gives oppositions nowhere to go and makes governments look strong and decisive, looking after your best interests (and theirs) at every turn.
After more than a year of COVID-19 dominating almost every news cycle, this is still where Australia finds itself. And don’t our governments love it.
With Mark McGowan’s thumping election win in Western Australia in March and Annastacia Palaszczuk’s late last year in Queensland, every government will feel its position has been endorsed — play to whatever is currently popular, keep the borders shut, sow even more fear and doubt than is necessary and double down on the language about the dangers of allowing people (even Australian citizens) back into the fortress.
It begs the question of who is leading the debate — are our leaders suggesting a new approach and forging a different way forward, having more information than most of us on the virus, testing other ideas to reintroduce us to the rest of the world? Or is it the “keep everyone else out because we’re very safe in our cocoon thank you very much and bugger off” approach that is winning every time?
While Australia has done a great job of keeping COVID-19 under control and ensuring our public health systems aren’t under strain, it’s due to our unique geography, rather than any great political strategy, that this has been possible.
If Australia had porous borders with other countries, like most of Europe, it would have been a lot harder. But governments like to tell the story that it’s their plans and approaches, rather than the fact that we’re a large and very isolated island, that has done the job.
The vaccine rollout and the operation of hotel quarantine systems have been undeniably botched but, instead of acknowledging this, the federal government is just choosing to keep the borders closed for longer and longer and continuing to pat itself on the back.
So, instead of being an outward-looking, international, compassionate country engaging with the rest of the world, Australia is retreating into itself, becoming more xenophobic, more inward-looking, and condemning a generation to treat strangers with far more suspicion and fear than is necessary.
Currently living in France courtesy of dual nationality, we’re fully vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine. Our doctor told us we have a 90-95% chance of not contracting the virus and if we do contract it, our cases will be mild and not require hospitalisation.
With a 5-10% chance of therefore contracting and transmitting the virus, we would still have to enter and pay for hotel quarantine for two weeks upon re-entering Australia. And we can’t leave again unless we apply for another exemption.
Not enough Australians are currently vaccinated to allow us back into the country — we currently have no need or desire to go, but the feeling we have from France is that Australia doesn’t want us back anyway.
It’s an interesting sentiment to experience.
We have been very careful while living here and followed all the government guidelines but will now travel more widely in Europe this northern summer. The approach and language of most European governments is very different to Australia’s, as they are looking forward to opening up, planning careful timetables to allow tourists back, and reiterating how glad they will be when this crisis is over.
By contrast, it seems the Morrison government, and perhaps other state governments, are happy to string out the crisis, keep the borders shut, and keep and tourists (and Australian citizens) out for as long as possible in order to win reelection in 2022 and beyond.
Jane Wilson is a publisher and a former journalist.
Never a more perceptive article written. Having been left stranded in Phuket, despite buying 4 tickets home to Sydney, I totally identify with every word.
I am an Oz and want to return but never ending difficulties continue. My existing booking has been changed 3 times…. maybe effort number five will be successful- but I have little confidence.
People should be able to come home. But we should not be opening the borders for big business. The borders need to stay shut for all but Australian citizens & permanent residents wishing to return. American Hollywood B grade stars should stay in Hollywood. The system is being played.
Govts can get away with a lot during a ‘crisis’. Naomi Klein’s 2006 book Shock Doctrine details the way supposedly democratic govts use crises to undermine human rights, transparency and good governance. Morrison has no interest in moving into a ‘post-crisis’ period where he has to become accountable to Australians again. By botching our quarantine system and vaccine roll out he can keep us locked up for a few more years.
Those of us who continue to be separated from close family just have to suck it up, there is no empathy. Notice the way the govt refers those Australian citizens and permanent residents stuck in India as Indians rather than Australians, so as to suggest they really don’t gave a right to return home.
Indeed. “I’m alright Jack, I’ve got my ladder up” seems to be Australia’s new motto.
Its more complicated than that. I want the borders to remain closed except for citizens & permanent residents returning. Why? To protect the lives of ALL living here & all those returning. Demand the government do something about quarantine instead of accusing us of not caring. We care. The government doesnt.
The most useless government at the worst possible time. Because of them we have no fit for purpose quarantine centres other than Howard Springs & a very, very slow vaccine roll out. Australia will never flourish under this IPA run bunch of charlatans. I feel for you, but until we have a responsible government, I would rather the border stay shut to all but citizens & permanent residents who want to return.
Open the borders when it is safe to do so, but now is not the time.
Sorry, but Australia is the same place you left. Politically dominated by the loudest, dumbest voices, and political parties unable to pursue any interest beyond votes and money. I speak to ordinary dumb voters every day and while they often voice the victim-blaming narrative pushed by Murdoch and his minions, they are easily brought around to sympathising with individual stories. I guess Australia is only different from the US and UK in that we have no significant opposition party here.
Finally, an article that highlights the critical relevance of geography in shaping Australia’s comparatively positive situation. Absolutely correct. Without it, the words and actions of protectionist state premiers would amount to bugger all.
Great article. I also live in Europe, but my issue is how to get back here to my job after quarantine and a few weeks with family in Oz. I am also fully vaccinated.
Fortunately for the federal government most expatriates can’t vote.
There is a pandemic on but here we see people putting their wants ahead of the safety of an entire country. If you want to travel back & forward, then demand the useless government build fit for purpose quarantine stations. Until that happens, the borders should stay shut. The lives of many are more important than the life & wants of one person at times like this.
Penny, you are coping a lot of negative votes. This Government flies in whomever it wants, the Marines up in top end, the Hollywood actors, we send Athletes to Japan for Olympics ( a country going through covid) Politicians fly in and out as if they are important.
Yet stranded Aussies do not get a look in whilst everyone else seems to be able to travel.
Hypocrisy is a new bye word for this shambolic Government, ship of fools!