Last year I warned that Scott Morrison’s government risked winning the war against COVID-19 – saving lives (albeit mainly a state government achievement), protecting the economy and saving jobs – but losing the post-COVID-19 peace.

Australians struck a pandemic bargain with his government, suffering lockdowns and business closures, triggering our first recession in 30 years and catastrophic job losses. The government’s end of the bargain was to protect us, in terms of both ongoing health risks and economic wellbeing. The buck stopped with the Prime Minister.