The key decisions were, understandably, made in the ‘fog of war’, but considering the huge economic costs, it’s vital to see where we got it right and wrong.
Travel bans and social distancing rules drastically reduced crowds at Australia's prime tourist destinations. Rhett Wyman
When the national cabinet was presented with “theoretical” epidemiological modelling on the coronavirus in early March, the nation’s most senior politicians were terrified by scenarios showing that intensive care units at hospitals could be overwhelmed and tens of thousands of Australians could die.
Australia, they were advised by epidemiologists at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, was on an early virus trajectory similar to the widespread outbreaks devastating parts of China, Europe and the United States.
John KehoeEconomics editorJohn Kehoe is economics editor at Parliament House, Canberra. He writes on economics, politics and business. John was Washington correspondent covering Donald Trump’s first election. He joined the Financial Review in 2008 from Treasury. Connect with John on Twitter. Email John at jkehoe@afr.com
