Shannon Deery: Daniel Andrews must ease restrictions earlier to reward our good work
Victorians have worked hard to smash targets set for the further easing of restrictions. So it’s time Daniel Andrews rewarded everyone for their hard work, writes Shannon Deery.
Opinion
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You can almost taste the freedom. And yet we’re not even close.
Set Victorians a challenge and we won’t just rise to it, we’ll smash it out of the park.
At least it appears that way on the recent evidence: the rapid speed at which our coronavirus cases have fallen.
In stark contrast to the predictions laid out in the government’s recovery road map, it seems Victorians have been grossly underestimated.
Regional Victoria jumped ahead two steps after meeting its targets with ease. Now metropolitan Melbourne should follow suit.
But while freedom seems tantalisingly close, in reality we are months away from anything remotely close to that notion.
Premier Daniel Andrews will face increased pressure this week to commit to an earlier than planned easing of restrictions.
If the numbers continue to fall as quickly as they have, and stay there, there should be no place left for stubborn refusal to change course.
Victorians deserve it.
Victoria needs it.
On Sunday just 14 new cases across metropolitan Melbourne were recorded, bringing the 14-day average for the region to 36.2.
That rolling average needs to be between 30 and 50 on Sunday to trigger the next step along the recovery road map.
If the numbers stay as low as 14, or thereabouts, it will fall well below 30.
It would be madness, on the back of a single day’s figure under 20, to surrender and announce significant changes to the road map. But Andrews and the public health team will be forced this week to explain why nuanced changes to the road map can’t be made.
Speaking of pressure, Victoria’s hotel quarantine inquiry reaches its much anticipated finale this week. With the exception of one early hiccup prompting a delay of proceedings, it has run uncharacteristically to schedule for a hearing of its type.
From Wednesday the four top ministers behind our pandemic response will appear to give their testimony.
Martin Pakula, Minister for the Coordination of Jobs, Precincts and Regions – COVID-19, is first up. He’ll be followed by Police Minister Lisa Neville, Health Minister Jenny Mikakos and finally, the Premier.
All are scheduled to appear on Wednesday. It’s hard to imagine their evidence not lasting more than a day.
At least, it should.
Despite two months of public hearings there are still so many questions left unanswered regarding the failed program that sparked Victoria’s deadly second wave.
No answer on who made the disastrous decision to use private security, who refused offers of assistance from the Australian Defence Force, and who was ultimately in charge.
Instead rampant finger-pointing and passing the buck at every opportunity.
Accountability, thus far, non-existent.
Former NSW premier Barry O’Farrell was pushed to resign over a $3000 bottle of wine.
Disgraced former Labor MP Adem Somyurek was dumped from the party over branch-stacking allegations.
Close allies Robin Scott and Marlene Kairouz left the ministry under a cloud for their alleged involvement.
Should we care more about money and corruption than lives?
What will the fallout be from arguably the worst public policy failure in the state’s history?
Probably nothing.
But for the inquiry to be worth even close to the minimum
$3 million it has cost so far, lessons must be learned.
We are going to be quarantining people into 2021 and perhaps beyond.
The inquiry’s final report, due on November 6, will inform how that works to ensure no further deadly outbreaks.
The government must at the very minimum take note, and make sure the failings that led to hundreds of Victorian deaths are never repeated.
AND ANOTHER THING
After about 70 hearings, an Israeli court is expected to decide on Monday whether or not fugitive Melbourne principal Malka Leifer is extradited to Victoria to face justice.
Australia first requested her extradition in 2014, with Daniel Andrews repeatedly urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to ensure Leifer’s return.
Leifer put her victims through hell before fleeing under the cover of night, and with the help of her religious community here in Melbourne, to the safety of Israel in 2008.
She has continued to torture her victims since, with the continued help of her community, and the Israeli justice system. She has faked illness and lived in hiding to avoid returning to Melbourne, where police want to charge her with dozens of child sex crimes.
If her extradition order is granted, Leifer is tipped to appeal, prolonging the torment.
If she does, the state and federal governments must apply unprecedented pressure to ensure she finally faces the scrutiny and justice she deserves.
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