Susie O’Brien: Aussies let down by ‘bloody hopeless’ feds

Australia’s Covid response was once the envy of the world, but our low vaccination rates are nothing short of a major embarrassment.

With Australia on the brink of becoming a land locked down, national cabinet must take decisive action.

More vaccine supplies must be urgently acquired and the international hotel quarantine program must be suspended until the current outbreaks are under control.

Only the most pressing and compassionate arrivals should be allowed to enter the country until we can be sure the system is watertight.

The right of people living here now to be free from endless restrictions should trump the rights of those wanting to come in from other countries.

For too long federal ministers such as Josh Frydenberg have been playing politics — why else would he say the hotel quarantine system that has led to 25 major outbreaks has been “by and large effective”?

I’d prefer to listen to epidemiologist Mary-Louise McLaws, who’s called the system a “mistake” that needs to be tightened up.

Making sure low-risk travellers are not placed in quarantine near high-risk international travellers would be a good start, she suggests.

We also need an end to the bickering between the states and the federal government over the location of the national quarantine hubs. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has given the green light to a 1000-bed hub at Mickleham, which should be open by the end of the year, but discussions are still continuing about the location of WA and Queensland sites.

It’s telling that Trade Minister Simon Birmingham says the federal government is making decisions about hubs for the “medium to long term”.

Why doesn’t he think Australia needs action right now? How bad do things have to get?

Vaccination is another area where the states need clear and decisive leadership from the Morrison government.

There’s expected to be a new push from Mr Morrison to make it mandatory for all aged care workers to be vaccinated – why are they still talking about it?

Why wasn’t it mandated after the last national cabinet weeks ago when it became known that only one third of aged care workers been vaccinated? We know how vulnerable and volatile this sector is, and yet a lack of federal leadership means workers and residents are not yet properly protected.

The federal government is also telling us we are still on track to offer every eligible person one dose of a vaccine by the end of the year.

But it’s too little, too late. We know from the experience in other countries that one dose isn’t enough protection from the new and virulent strains of the virus.

The list of unanswered questions about vaccinations continues to mount — along with the national number of cases.

Why has only around 4 per cent of our population been fully vaccinated when other countries like the US and the UK have managed to get to nearly 50 per cent?

Why are the feds still talking about simple decisions like vaccinating those working in quarantine?

And why haven’t we begun making vaccines here?

It’s telling that Victoria’s stopped counting on the feds and has developed Australia’s first local mRNA Covid-19 vaccine. It will be made here and should be ready for clinical trials by the end of the year.

The federal government should be doing more to facilitate this process through national vaccine producing facilities.

It all adds up to a galling situation for a country that — until a few months ago — was the envy of the world.

Now our low vaccination rates are a cause for embarrassment and our lack of robust isolated quarantine facilities is a national disgrace for a largely empty country.

Lockdown-weary Victorians are watching the situation unfold in other states with little glee.

We know how hard it is.

Given that it’s school holidays, many Victorians are directly affected by cancelled vacation plans.

And those running businesses here with a presence in lockdown states are hit in the hip pocket yet again.

The Sandringham drycleaner outbreak, the Virgin flight crew and the visiting mine workers remind us we’re just a handful of cases from being locked down as well.

While there are a few isolated cases of Bondi sunbakers and others behaving irresponsibly, the vast majority of Australians are doing the right thing.

Testing rates in the most affected states are higher than ever, and there are few fines for those disobeying restrictions. People are also flocking to get vaccinated – when they can.

Again, we’re being let down by a self-preoccupied federal government that’s failed to show national leadership.

Things did not need to get this dire for the Prime Minister to call another national cabinet.

The states are only as good as the federal government, which at this point is bloody hopeless.