With COVID-19 crisis set to run for months, a more nimble approach is needed from government
Knowing that COVID-19 will be with us for a long time to come, the answer cannot be that we keep shutting everything down.
Opinion
Don't miss out on the headlines from Opinion. Followed categories will be added to My News.
GOLD Coast based Federal MP Karen Andrews hit the nail on the head in the Bulletin on Wednesday: “The long-term answer cannot be that we keep shutting everything down.
“We need to know how to live and to work in the COVID environment because quite frankly this will be with us for many, many months.”
Unfortunately prophetic words but with a clear direct line from the Prime Minister Scott Morrison playbook which has largely been based on a philosophy of containment whilst simultaneously keeping what parts of the economy moving that we can.
Effectively, a learn to live with it approach.
But learning to live with it we are not.
It is a strategy incumbent on everyone in society playing their part – observing social distancing protocols, maintaining fastidious hygiene practices, sticking to two maximum in the lift, taking names and numbers at venues, not lying to border officials or on statutory declarations, getting tested at the hint of a COVID-19 symptom and staying away from your workplace and other areas of potential transmission whilst you await results.
Queensland has done remarkably well thus far at keeping its virus numbers down.
But as hospitality operators including respected industry voice Billy Cross noted this week, the city and its small businesses need to be rewarded for the part they have played in this and need a road to recovery.
At the moment, the fear at what is happening in the major southern states and potential risk at the Tweed-Coolangatta border bubble is causing nerves aplenty.
The prospect of a hard border closure with no more “bubble” freedom of movement for those who live and work close to either side of the borderline is growing by the day.
The warnings have been sounded by Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young to essential workers to think about where they need to be based.
But in practicality it’s not going to be easy.
As revealed in this newspaper today, upwards of 80 police officers who served in the Tweed and Byron areas are based on the Gold Coast.
Nearly a similar number are in the reverse situation.
Scores of health professionals are in the same boat.
Some have already had to forgo attending their clinics, cancelling surgeries, leaving patients in the lurch.
These are real world headaches. But those in charge of finding the solutions for them – based on responses to Bulletin questions – are coming up empty-handed.
In the meantime, hospitality venues which form the backbone of the city’s small business economy cannot get any give on restrictions despite the place being all but closed off to the world and rest of the country – and with few active cases in play.
There is a lack of nimble thinking and execution that gives little faith in the Karen Andrews mantra being fulfilled any time soon.
But with some predictions Victoria’s lockdown could last into 2021, a far more nimble approach is going to be absolutely necessary.
‘Qld doesn’t want daylight savings – the debate is done and dusted’
It’s the annual daylight saving debate, fresh with an Olympic twist. HAVE YOUR SAY
A year since October 7, what has happened to Australia?
As protests around the world mark a year since the October 7 attack on Israel, US correspondent Tom Minear says he does not recognise how Australia has changed since then.