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David Penberthy is a columnist with The Advertiser and Sunday Mail, and also co-hosts the FIVEaa Breakfast show. He’s a former editor of the Daily Telegraph, Sunday Mail and news.com.au.

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David Penberthy

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Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks to the media during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Wednesday, April 29, 2020. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch/Pool)

Hey PM, it’s time to loosen the lockdown

Thanks to the nation’s collective good sense, our coronavirus infection rates have flattened but our economic woes increase. Surely that is proof that we can start returning to normal, writes David Penberthy.

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Richard Pusey, the driver of a Porsche who allegedly fled the scene of a truck crash on Melbourne's Eastern Freeway which killed four police officers, is taken away from his Fitzroy property by police in Melbourne, Thursday, April 23, 2020. (AAP Image/Michael Dodge) NO ARCHIVING

Enough is enough: It’s time to tighten our road rules

The manner in which four Victorian police officers died this week is nothing short of profoundly tragic. And it should spark serious change to the way we treat reckless drivers, writes David Penberthy.

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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 09: Phoenix Crawford does school work on a laptop while being home-schooled by his mum Donna Eddy on April 09, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. Massage therapist and acupuncturist Donna Eddy is able to continue running her business from home as a clinical practitioner after the Federal and State governments implemented tough restrictions and the closure of non-essential business due to COVID-19. While Donna has always maintained a strict cleaning regimen in her work space, it has now increased in response to the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic with table linen changed, surfaces such as door handles wiped down and floors mopped between each patient who must wash or sanitize hands on arrival. A single mother to 8-year-old Phoenix, Donna Eddy is also juggling home schooling while running her business. Phoenix, who is in Year Two at primary school, now has a routine where he can complete school work while his mother treats patients throughout the day, however Donna says it is still a struggle to balance her work and making sure she is available to help her son when he needs help with his online work. The Australian government introduced tough restrictions in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, closing non-essential businesses and imposing limits of peoples movement, gatherings and social distancing measures. Public gatherings are now limited to two people, while Australians must stay stay home unless absolutely necessary. New South Wales and Victoria have also enacted additional lockdown measures to allow police the power to fine people who breach the two-person outdoor gathering limit or leave their homes without a reasonable excuse. Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory have all closed their borders to non-essential travellers and international arrivals into Australia are being sent to mandatory quarantine in hotels for 14 days. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

Unions have missed the mark in keeping kids home from school

The Australian Education Union risks squandering the goodwill that now exists towards teachers if it continues to rubbish the medical advice and push for school closures, writes David Penberthy.

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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 29: Students are seen arriving for school in Chatswood on January 29, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. The education department has asked for students who have recently travelled to China to be kept home from school until after the 14-day incubation period for coronavirus has ended. The precautionary measure was announced by the NSW Health Minister as the death toll from coronavirus in China stands at 106 people, with 4,515 people are infected, while thousands more are under observation. Four cases have been confirmed in NSW. (Photo by Jenny Evans/Getty Images)

Can Government just settle the schools debate once and for all?

You’d think that in the midst of a pandemic governments could come together to keep families and teachers safe. But as COVID-19 carries on, so too do the mixed messages, writes David Penberthy.

Opinion

Crowds of people at Henley Beach on Good Friday morning April ,10,2020.(Image AAP/Mark Brake)

SA’s sanity keeps us safe from east’s misery

Adelaide’s reliably cool temperament saved the city from months of Sydney-like torment writes David Penberthy. Those “boring” jibes from the east ring like compliments now.

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Gladys Berejiklian owes us all an apology

In unprecedented times like these, nobody expects perfection from our leaders, but some common sense and an ability to do everything possible to keep us safe would be nice, writes David Penberthy.

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CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 07: Prime Minister Scott Morrison during a press conference in the Main Committee Room at Parliament House on April 07, 2020 in Canberra, Australia. Public gatherings are now limited to two people, while Australians are being urged to stay home unless absolutely necessary in a bid to reduce the spread of COVID-19. New South Wales and Victoria have also enacted additional lockdown measures to allow police the power to fine people who breach the two-person outdoor gathering limit or leave their homes without a reasonable excuse. Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory have all closed their borders to non-essential travellers and international arrivals into Australia are being sent to mandatory quarantine in hotels for 14 days. (Photo by Sam Mooy/Getty Images)

Should states be allowed to ease social distancing rules?

As the war against coronavirus wages on, many are wondering when and how we’re ever going to get out of this mess. And now, it seems the Prime Minister has a plan, writes David Penberthy.

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US President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference on the COVID-19, coronavirus, outbreak flanked by US Vice President Mike Pence at the White House in Washington, DC on March 25, 2020. - The number of novel coronavirus cases in the world rose to 85,919, including 2,941 deaths, across 61 countries and territories by 1700 GMT on Saturday, according to a report gathered by AFP from official sources. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP)

Reason US is suffering so much is sad and simple

So far, Australia’s response to COVID-19 has been one of the most successful throughout the world. And the reason for this is one that we too often take for granted, writes David Penberthy.

Opinion

President Donald Trump speaks about the coronavirus in the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House, Friday, April 3, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Without public healthcare, the US is staring at a virus calamity

The US state of Louisiana, with one-fifth of Australia’s population, has had 10 times the number of deaths as us. At the very least, we know Australia is on the right track with Medicare, writes David Penberthy.

Opinion

Leader of the Opposition Anthony Albanese speaks to the media outside his childhood home in Camperdown, Sydney, Thursday, March 26, 2020. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett) NO ARCHIVING

This is not the time for political pot shots

A crisis doesn’t mean a free pass for prime ministers or premiers but even Labor voters are fed up with this opposition sniping from the sidelines, writes David Penberthy.

Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/journalists/david-penberthy/page/42