Susie O’Brien: Victoria may be open but it’s still a second-rate state

The opening of international borders should be a cause for celebration but tourists will soon see how Victoria is lagging behind when it comes to Covid restrictions.

Welcome to Victoria, the second-rate state.

The opening of international borders on Monday and the arrival of the first plane-load of tourists and loved ones should be a cause for celebration.

Instead, it’s a reminder of how far we’ve yet to come, and how much we’ve been held back in the past two years by Premier Daniel Andrews.

International tourists don’t just travel in one state: they go from place to place, comparing one to another. They’ll soon see how we’re lagging behind many other states when it comes the restrictions and rules governing our everyday lives.

Tourists will soon see how Victoria is lagging behind many other states. Picture: David Crosling

Here in Victoria we’re still wearing masks in indoor settings.

We still have to check in to go out to dinner using QR codes no one is monitoring.

Offices are still empty and the government is paying public servants to work from home.

As usual, the government’s response is a shambles. We now have no density limits in pubs, and elective surgery can go ahead, but eight-year-olds who won’t get sick from Covid have to wear masks all day in class.

If Andrews had his way, he would have also forced international visitors to be triple-vaccinated before arriving here.

He did his best to make this happen but was overruled federally, which means foreign arrivals only have to be double vaccinated.

Andrews finally admitted his plan was “impractical”.

If Dan Andrews had his way, he would have also forced international visitors to be triple-vaccinated before arriving here. Picture: Aaron Francis

Too right. Imagine having to have three vaccinations to get a pint and a parma in a pub, but the person next to you only has to have two because they’re on holiday.

Andrews isn’t content for Victoria to have some of the highest vaccination rates anywhere in the world; he has long wanted a third jab mandated.

As he’s put it more than once: “three doses is what’s required in order to be as safe as it can be”.

Three-dose Dan even tried to get away with making threats to try and bully others into adopting his triple-vaxxed vision for tourists and others.

Doesn’t he realise the third-dose booster isn’t even available in some countries? Or that experts such as Professor Tony Blakeley and Dr Michael Lydeamore insist it won’t make any difference to our infection rates given how widespread the disease is in our community?

If we want to jump-start our recovery, we need to remove all barriers for visitors to come here and spend up big. Picture: Mark Stewart

Andrews warned he would even lock double-vaccinated patrons out of hospitality, retail and entertainment venues if the federal vaccine regulator didn’t back his push for “fully vaccinated” to mean three doses.

This is an appalling way to treat one of our hardest-hit sectors and their patrons.

But this failure hasn’t stopped Andrews from subjecting as many Victorians as possible subject to unnecessary vaccine mandates – including a botched bid to only allow parents with boosters to attend their children’s school events.

Indeed, many Victorians have to be triple-dosed just to do their job.

With more and more new arrivals jetting in every day, Andrews must categorically rule out the imposition of any triple-dose mandates on the tourism and hospitality sector.

While Victoria cannot close itself off from international arrivals, it can seal off states and bring in new vaccine mandates for businesses.

Our handling of the crisis – which turned us into the most locked down city in the world – has made us a global laughing stock.

If we want to jump-start our recovery, we need to remove all barriers for visitors to come here and spend up big.

Visitors need to be sure they won’t get stuck in any more sudden “snap” lockdowns that last nine weeks or more.

Here in Victoria we’re still wearing masks in indoor settings. Picture: Mark Stewart

And we shouldn’t be asking for proof of vaccination status when entering beauty parlours, restaurants and pubs given the state’s record high vaccination rates.

While I have had a third vaccination shot and am a passionate supporter of vaccination, mandating three jabs is a decision that should only be made on a federal level by national cabinet. Even then it should only be applied for the most vulnerable groups such as aged care residents and the people caring for them.

It’s time now for the government to let go and allow people to manage these issues themselves.

With cases and ICU admissions falling, there is no longer any justification for widespread booster vaccine mandates.

State data shows we’re being very responsible. Although only 15 per cent of teens have had a third dose, this rises to 76 per cent of those over 70.

As experts like Professor Peter Collignon have pointed out, this is the group that we should be focusing on.

Rather than drip-feeding the relaxation of restrictions one press conference at a time, we should remove all rules except those protecting the most at-risk groups.

We don’t need Triple-dose Dan telling us what to do anymore.

Susie O’Brien is a Herald Sun columnist