QandA: COVID-19 situation to last two or three years, says Michael Gunner

QandA discussed Australia’s road to COVID-19 recovery, Indigenous incarceration rates, the postponement of parliament and the future of the arts sector.

Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner on QandA on Monday night.

The panellists on Monday night’s episode of Q&A discussed Australia’s “disrupted” road to recovery, starting with whether it is economically viable to eliminate COVID-19 as opposed to suppressing it.

While most of the country is in a state of elimination, Doherty Institute epidemiologist Jodie McVernon said it is extremely hard for people to remain in that state for prolonged periods of time.

“Around the country we’ve seen a decline in the personal protection measures and other behaviours we know will reduce the risk of infection and the opportunity is still there for the infection to spread,” she said.

“We’re not willing to close our borders entirely and not willing to stop Australians coming back … and we need to work out a way to get community transmission under control but then to be able to somehow bring the community along with us to take that journey of keeping community transmission and the levels of infection incredibly low.”

Professor McVernon said an explicit approach of elimination was not a sustainable way to manage the virus in NSW and Victoria.

“We don’t want to be in a position of having to come back into lockdown and we know the economic and social harms,” she said.

Northern Territory’s Chief Minister Michael Gunner dealt with the issue of incarceration rates of Indigenous people, and discussed how the justice system “creates pathways to prison for Indigenous people”.

“It’s a national shame,” Mr Gunner said.

“The over-representation of Aboriginal people in our justice system and our jails is not good enough.”

Mr Gunner said he is prepared to “fix the cycle”, to “invest in our kids” and make sure a long-term difference is made to incarceration rates.

He said his government was working to create other consequences to break the pattern, including bush camps and getting young offenders involved with traditional elders.

Host Hamish Macdonald asked Mr Gunner to clarify whether the Territory’s borders were shut, to which he said he would prefer to see Yulara Airport closed to prevent people entering Anangu lands and visiting Uluru.

“If you arrive at Yulara it makes it difficult. We would rather the airport didn’t open up,” he said.

“Can I reassure you, (it) doesn’t matter where you enter the Northern Territory, if you come from a hotspot you will spend 14 days in a quarantine facility and we’ll do everything we can to stop community transmission of coronavirus here in the Northern Territory.”

Mr Gunner added that a suppression strategy led to an elimination outcome in the Territory, and said residents will be living with this situation for another two to three years.

“I think we will be in this phase for a very long time,” he said. “I can’t see a quick end to this.”

Professor McVernon supported Mr Gunner’s position, saying the need for responsive measures in Australia will be necessary to minimise the risk of spreading the disease further, especially into rural and remote communities.

Doherty Institute epidemiologist Jodie McVernon on Monday night's QandA.

“That’s really where we need to work creatively with communities and with sustained risk mitigation measures to try and minimise the likelihood these kinds of outbreaks take off and lead to these disruptions,” she said.

Professor McVernon added: “We don’t have a clear exit strategy. There isn’t a clear end in sight.”

Greens leader Adam Bandt said it has become increasingly more apparent that face masks do protect people from spreading the virus and said he will support the government’s move to urge people to wear them.

“I think the goal should be to take the steps that we need to, which is probably going to be a combination of things that have been taken around the country already, including things like masks,” Mr Bandt said.

“If we get to that point, including wearing masks, we’re going to see the ability to have some more discussions about greater interstate travel, perhaps less hard borders in between states.”

Professor McVernon said the mask had been introduced in Victoria because “it’s the last thing we could add” after the public health measures and lockdowns that are in place.

“I think practically … having to stop and put a mask on before you leave the house is a reminder it’s not necessarily safe out there and the threat is not eliminated,” she said.

Mr Brandt said it is “disappointing” the government has chosen to cancel parliament, claiming democracy should not fall victim of the pandemic.

“Everyone else in the country has been asked to work out ways around the appropriate health restrictions and parliament should be able to as well,” he said.

“What we know is every time parliament has sat we’ve managed to include more people in some of the government’s support measures to make sure fewer people are left behind.

“I think it is wrong that the government after many months has not developed a feasible alternative way of parliament meeting to discuss the business of dealing with this pandemic.”

Hip-hop artist from southwest Sydney L-FRESH the Lion said while the government has made certain announcements to revive the decimated arts and entertainment sectors, he feels more will be need to ensure a return to normal for the industry.

“So many people are falling through the cracks,” he said.

“Hopefully, we get to a point where things can be some semblance of normal, but I think inevitably it will be the new normal.”

Tourism and Transport Forum chief executive Margy Osmond said from a tourism industry’s perspective, often the reason people travel to different cities is because of the shows that are on.

“I think if there’s a legacy out of COVID, it’s the attention that’s been focused on the performing arts industry and the really critical role that it has,” she said.

“We’re really keen to see additional support going to the performing arts sector.”