Caleb Bond: Finally, Steven Marshall stands up to the bureaucrats

It’s been a long time coming – the Premier, with the state’s top cop, has finally stood up to health bureaucrats over borders. It took long enough, writes Caleb Bond.

Congratulations to Premier Steven Marshall on finally developing some intestinal fortitude.

Chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier – who has all but been allowed to run the state for about 20 months – wanted to shut the borders as soon as they opened.

Some bloke sneezed and then this Omicron variant, which by many reports is a milder and potentially non-deadly strain of Covid-19, was found in Australia.

Prof Spurrier asked for the borders to be shut – twice.

But rather than capitulate to the “health advice”, a response to which we are all now terribly accustomed, Mr Marshall and Police Commissioner Grant Stevens overruled her.

The Premier, who is now extremely reluctant to shut the border again, disregarded the health advice and took the moral advice that families should be able to celebrate Christmas together, possibly for the first time in years.

Mr Marshall has been missing in action for a long time. He effectively handed control of the state to Mr Stevens and Prof Spurrier – and, to some degree, has still left some of that with them.

Chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Premier Steven Marshall kept borders open, despite differing advice. Picture: Brenton Edwards

It is a move of which I have been extremely critical for more than a year. Politicians are elected by us to make moral decisions on behalf of us.

They are surrounded by bureaucrats and supposed experts who are there to provide advice.

It is then the job of the Premier and his cabinet to weigh up that advice against what would be best for the people of his state. Otherwise, you may as well abolish the concept of representative government and officially put the unelected bureaucrats in charge to govern based on their infallible advice.

The health advice from someone who has always worked in the health sector and views everything only through the prism of health is obviously going to be skewed.

Banning alcohol, for instance, is pretty solid health advice. It would stop countless deaths and injuries. But we don’t do that because it’s anti-freedom and we acknowledge people should have some level of personal responsibility.

And how can the health advice be so wildly different between states? Victoria records about 1000 cases a day and is entirely open.

Mr Marshall has, at least in a small way, put his foot down and taken back some control. He should be commended for finally doing something.

There is undoubtedly a section of South Australians who would prefer to have the borders closed forever more to keep the dastardly Covid out.

But there are many people who just want to see their families and move around in their own country.

And on top of that you have business people who have grown increasingly angry with Mr Marshall’s capitulation to Prof Spurrier. Opposition leader Peter Malinauskas addressed an Australian Hotels Association lunch this week and was, by many accounts, extremely well received.

Mr Malinauskas has also promised to chair the transition committee if he wins government next year, which would put him at the front of decision-making around Covid – something Mr Marshall has strangely and deliberately avoided.

If the Premier wants a second term of government, he must wrestle back more power from Spurrier and co. It is simply a fact that Australia is opening up. We are getting back into the real world.

Queensland will reopen its borders next week. Perth has lost the fifth Ashes Test as a result of its cruel hermit-state policy.

Actions have consequences, as Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan is now discovering. To shut SA’s border again would have shown incredible weakness and been a message to the rest of the country – as well as the state’s business community – that we are closed for business.

We would be foolish to think Prof Spurrier would not again push for border closures – or worse – if Omicron lands in SA.

Mr Marshall is finally making the right noises. He must continue to stand steadfast against closing SA and prove that he is truly taking back control.

Otherwise, he is toast.