We can’t live as hermits forever: Matt Cunningham

The bizarre new world where citizens of the same country are treated differently depending on the first number of their postcode is over, writes Matt Cunningham.

THE game has changed. The bizarre new world where citizens of the same country are treated differently depending on the first number of their postcode is over.

The belief Australia can forever put up the moat to protect itself from a virus is no more.

The drastic change in our country’s management of Covid-19 came via two announcements made by different states within the space of an hour yesterday.

First, New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet declared people arriving in his state – including international arrivals – would no longer be forced to quarantine.

Then Victoria announced people coming from New South Wales and the ACT would no longer need to quarantine.

They would simply need to isolate until they return a negative test.

The announcements – particularly Perrottet’s – were recognition we can no longer hide from a virus that much of the rest of the world has decided to live with.

NT chief health officer Dr Hugh Heggie announcing directions for mandatory vaccinations. Picture Julianne Osborne

In the United States and the United Kingdom people are travelling freely, bars and restaurants are full and sporting events are being held in front of packed stadiums despite thousands of Covid cases each day.

As Perrottet says: “We can’t be a hermit kingdom forever.”

These decisions mark a clear change in the way this country manages the coronavirus.

They will have huge benefits for businesses – particularly tourism – and will see fractured families reunited. They will also have massive ramifications for the Northern Territory.

On Wednesday Chief Minister Michael Gunner announced a roadmap to reopen.

Gunner flagged an end to mandatory supervised quarantine for domestic arrivals once 80 per cent of Territorians are fully vaccinated, but people would still have to spend two weeks in quarantine at home.

At the time he looked to be ahead of the game. We’re now at least a step behind.

New South Wales’ announcement – which effectively opens the international border to Victoria as well – will put enormous pressure on other states.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has acknowledged we can’t live like hermits forever. Picture: Adam Yip

Western Australia and Queensland have taken a hard line on their borders.

Those measures have been politically popular, but that could soon change.

Will businesses in Queensland and Western Australia be happy for their financial carnage to continue while NSW reaps the benefits of a less conservative approach?

For the Northern Territory – which has so far taken a more measured approach than Queensland and WA – yesterday’s announcements present a challenge, but also an opportunity.

Last week we secured Qantas flights between Darwin and London, but these will be of little benefit to the NT if the people aboard these flights need to go straight to Howard Springs or even into home quarantine.

Yet take a less conservative approach and we might be able to steal Perth’s Qantas base for more than just a few months.

If Western Australia and Queensland continue their fortress approach, the Northern Territory’s tourism industry could take advantage of millions of long-locked down Victorians and New South Welshmen desperate for a change of scenery.

The biggest concern will be protecting Aboriginal communities where vaccination rates remain worryingly low.

But measures including testing can greatly reduce the risk. The realisation that the virus can’t be kept out forever might also help boost those lagging vaccination rates.

The false assumption Covid won’t affect Aboriginal people has contributed to this vaccine hesitancy, as Pat Turner, the head of the National Community Controlled Aboriginal Health Organisation told Senate Estimates this week.

But vaccination rates increased dramatically following a Delta outbreak in Western New South Wales.

Of course there was one significant catch in yesterday’s announcements.

Anyone wishing to take advantage of the relaxed measures in New South Wales and Victoria would need to be fully vaccinated.

It’s the carrot approach, as opposed to the stick.

For more than 18 months we’ve relied on our governments to protect us from this deadly virus.

Now, through vaccination, we have the ability to protect ourselves.

There should be benefits for those sensible enough to take this action.