Jeff Kennett: Smug Dan showing ugly face of politics

Premier Daniel Andrews is smugly taking shots at NSW — but his government’s failures leave every other state well in his wake.

Covid-19 will be with us for years to come – get used to the idea!

Just as influenza is with us and we vaccinate — and the same with measles.

Locking down society as we have witnessed is not the answer. Society simply cannot survive under the constant threat of the next lockdown.

Here in Victoria we have no, or very few, community cases. All that have been recently reported are, or have been, in quarantine.

Yes there will be new cases from time to time, and different strains probably emerging.

We now have a range of new medical alternatives emerging that will help us through such outbreaks if governments are prepared to be more flexible.

In the UK recently, Wimbledon appeared to have full stands of spectators. Tennis officials used a combination of the proof of vaccination, and/or rapid antigen testing before entry to Wimbledon, and QR codes.

The CareStart Covid-19 rapid antigen test is already used by the Commonwealth government and the Australian Medical Assistance Teams at Howard Springs, in some aged care homes, the Commonwealth Bank and at Qantas.

We could employ rapid antigen testing here in Victoria. For gatherings at sports events, arts performances and even for the simple task of shopping.

Daniel Andrews has been smugly taking shots at NSW. Picture: Getty Images

We don’t have to lose our sporting events to cancellations, lockdowns or movement interstate.

There is a solution available now, being used here and internationally. Why won’t the government allow its use in Victoria?

Is it because they are a one-trick pony and simply want to lock us all down every time there is a minor outbreak of the virus? Ridiculous.

I accept that we, including the authorities, were on a steep learning curve when Covid-19 first arrived.

But there are many learnings and new products being used at home and around the world, so that authorities should be open to trialling and endorsing new methods to identify the virus’s presence and allow us to exercise maximum freedom of movement.

The demonstrations last weekend, in the absence of more flexible but educated practices, were unacceptable. Those participating were playing Russian roulette, not only with their own health, that of their families, those attending, the broader community and, of course, our economy.

It might take three to six days to find out if any of those who attended the demonstration have caught or passed on the virus, if those attending even get tested.

I understand for many their participation was an expression of frustration, but that is no excuse.

But it is not only the protesters I am disappointed with, it is the political leaders around the country, who are increasingly running their own races.

If national cabinet was meant to deliver a unified approach to deal with the pandemic, that concept is well and truly lost.

To see Premier Daniel Andrews smugly having shots at NSW, time and again, is the ugly face of politics today.

NSW is struggling, we should all be sympathetic to their plight.

NSW, led by Gladys Berejiklian, is under lockdown but cases are climbing. Picture: Getty Images

Daniel Andrews and his government’s failures leave every other state well in his wake.

On Tuesday, the government lifted the lockdown, but kept in force many commonsense restrictions, such as wearing masks.

But this virus is here to stay in one form or another. Leaders have to be careful when slamming each other because they might quickly see circumstances reversed.

Now here in Victoria, we have the challenge of opening up the state as quickly as possible, but safely. We can prepare to reopen major events as they have done overseas but it requires the government and health officials to be more flexible.

We need our AFL season, community sport, Spring Racing Carnival and the Australian Tennis Open to be staged.

The policy of zero cases is unrealistic, stupid and costly in so many ways.

The authorities must start to embrace more realistic methods of dealing with this virus.

We still have waves of influenza, which before Covid resulted in hundreds of deaths a year. Many of us have annual flu shots, without quibble. Many elect not to be vaccinated, that is their choice.

Vaccination is a major step to reducing the risks of contracting Covid-19. But not a 100 per cent guarantee.

I wonder how those mothers who demonstrated with their children, here and in NSW, against vaccination and loss of personal freedoms, will feel if their children become infected as is happening in the US, where children are on ventilators dying slow and painful deaths.

Parents are playing Russian roulette with their children’s lives. Does not make sense to me. It’s almost criminal.

Like most readers, I am deeply saddened by what we have experienced. The loss of businesses, the reduction in our ability to move around freely.

Yet we have all in the main conformed. It is now up to governments to develop how future outbreaks will be handled.
It simply cannot be by lockdowns.

I worry about our future if zero tolerance remains the objective, and the same tactics as demonstrated by five lockdowns in Victoria are to be part of the approach.

Governments must restore our confidence when planning next week or month or year.

ABC, I CAN’T HEAR YOU

Just on another totally unrelated matter. Have you noticed how free-to-air television is placing music behind some of their most basic programs?

The ABC is the worst. Its background music is so loud you often simply cannot hear what is being said.

The ABC’s audience is in the main senior citizens. Many with poor hearing. Why does the station make it so hard for their viewers?

Anyway, enough for now.

Be healthy and be happy. Every day is a gift.

Jeff Kennett is a former premier of Victoria