Welcome to the column where you provide the content. As Scott Morrison pushed the pandemic plan button, Anthony Albanese went missing in action and one of Australia’s leading virologists declared everyone will eventually contract coronavirus, even the Pope started to sniffle. Meantime, the latest figures confirmed the fast-spreading virus had notched up more new cases outside China than inside the country where the epidemic originated. Chris compared and contrasted:
“Scomo plans and Albo plays. Nice to finally have a competent leader in Australia.”
Anthony averred:
“Anthony Albanese certainly knows where his priorities are not attending the government’s briefing about the coronavirus and their plans.”
Dumb, said David:
“Anthony Albanese is prepared to jeopardise competent government action to protect Australian citizens during the coronavirus pandemic for the sake of some imaginary political gain. He is a person unworthy of future leadership.”
More from Michael:
“May as well have gone to Hawaii.”
Sharon seethed:
“ ‘Each Way Albo’ playing gutter politics with another national disaster to gain a few more votes. It doesn’t get more pathetic than that, but I guess now we know his true colours. He doesn’t actually care about what’s best for this nation as it navigates it’s way through difficult times it’s all about division and trying to get into power at any cost, disgusting!”
SJ simmered:
“Albo, MIA and playing politics. Albo, who bleated on and on that Morrison was in Hawaii for a week during the bushfires but now thinks it is more important to make a speech at a rugby event than have a briefing on the coronavirus.
“Albo, the pollie who said he would work with the govt and become more bipartisan on national matters! Such blatant hypocrisy and lies from a man Labor portrays as having integrity. He is no better than Shorten, and after his double take on coal must wonder who he actually is, Shorten’s double or the hollow man of politics.”
Another Chris was cross:
“Very sad day for Labor when they stopped the National Security panel having a full uninterrupted meeting on how to tackle this virus. Not providing an allowance for a minister to be absent for such a meeting will be very much frowned upon by the electorate. Good work Albo on proving you are not leadership quality.”
Tut tut, said TonyW:
“Someone had to teach Labor how pairs work? Well I knew they were incompetent. I don’t remember them facing any real national emergencies though.”
A riposte from MarkR:
“There was the GFC but it was handled so well you didn’t notice it was an international crisis.”
Bonnie was bothered:
“Spanish flu killed 40 to 50 million people in 1918/19, spread by soldiers returning from WW1, not so much the young or old. This virus will be deadly to old people and those who are already ill. The government is doing the right thing to bypass WHO and get busy planning.”
Dexxter doubled down:
“This virus is what a real emergency looks like with some people unfortunately losing their lives daily, as opposed to the confected ‘climate emergency’ which is more about wealth distribution than actually saving lives. Grateful that Morrison is leading the strategy on this as opposed to Albanese and the Labor mob who would be clueless in such a situation.”
Lloyd smelled a rat:
“Morrison is using this as a smoke screen to cover the sports rort disaster. Wake up, the guy couldn’t lie straight in bed.”
Frankie was fearless:
“When it comes to the coronavirus or Global Warming advice, I choose to listen to the leader of the free world. Donald Trump simply said wash your hands a few times and don’t let anyone cough on you and you should be right. Sounds like a good plan.”
John was jaundiced:
“Trump has been merrily cutting the budget of the US Centre for Disease Control (CDC), the medical science organisation charged with responding to potential pandemic outbreaks of disease. I prefer to listen to the scientists and virologists.”
Peter pondered:
“Hard to understand that there have been no reported cases in Indonesia.”
Glen offered:
“I live in Indonesia, and will be circumspect in what I say. There are no ‘official reported cases’ as yet. The Jakarta Post had some things to say yesterday regarding a reported death of a 37-year-old male in Semarang of ‘bronchial pneumonia’. Personally I have made preparations with sanitisers, masks, medicines, food and water, fuel and my own generator.”
David saw a silver lining:
“What this is showing is that as far as international trade goes having to many eggs in one basket is no good. Australia needs to trade with many more different markets so the loss of one will not hurt us so much. We also need to make a lot more stuff here in Australia and then in some critical areas we may become self sufficient. China has become the easy way but its fraught with danger so we must diversify and do it soon.”
Christine cautioned:
“Coronavirus has given us a taste of what it would be like to have a more serious illness turn into a global pandemic. We need to be more self reliant so that if necessary Australia could close its doors to the rest of the world.”
Gareth scoffed:
“With our 3 weeks of fuel reserves, what the hell do we have to worry about? Anyway, it’s footy in 20 days, so get your priorities straight.”
Thomas doubted:
“If the world economy massively contracts from nations locking down international travel and in effect blocking supply chains, the resulting economic and social impact would ironically be very deleterious to health and well being. If it is true that the virus will spread regardless, then perhaps the optimum policy is to keep the globe open for individuals to travel and businesses to trade.
“Perhaps those who die from the virus are mainly those who would die anyway from other cold viruses and the various strands of flu. The real measure of the impact of a new virus is whether the death rate in general is higher than normal. Is it? Are there statistics to show an actual statistically significant spike in the general death rate? Life is never free from health risks. A cost benefit analysis is required before any further draconian measures are taken to disrupt economic and social linkages. In the meantime, everyone needs to rigorously apply traditional hygiene measures to help combat diseases of all kinds. These are the least costly and most effective measures of all.”
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Graham Lloyd pondered whether NZ PM Jacinda Ardern was a show pony or a stayer, as the gloss wore off at home despite her dream run on the global stage. Merv mused:
“NZ is currently in that part of the cycle Australia was in during stage 1 Rudd/Gillard/Rudd. Previous conservative government has the country full steam ahead. Along comes Labor, full of sanctimony, throws money around like confetti, economy takes nose dive. Conservatives eventually returned to clean up the mess.”
Geoff was gruff:
“I don’t think she’s a show pony or a stayer, I think she is just a clueless propagandist and LW Progressive ideologue. Scratch the surface and you’ll find nothing of substance.”
John joined in:
“I suspect New Zealanders have already scratched that surface. There is no doubt she’s ideologically sincere, just deluded and devoid of any capacity to deliver what she promises. And that’s how she will be judged. Unfortunately, that’s become the defining characteristic of the progressive left. Full of ideas, but completely lacking in substance or practical management ability. They claim to know where they want to go but are clueless about how to get there.”
Mike said:
“I’m always suspicious of politicians like Ardern who have never had a proper job. Straight from university to ‘political staffer’ and then politician. There are several like this in our parliament.”
From Mary:
“I think Ardern can kiss goodbye to having NZ First as a coalition partner. It isn’t only the donations scandal that will finish that party off. The racing industry is furious about what could happen under the Racing Bill currently going through parliament. It has provisions for smaller racetracks to be effectively confiscated by the government. It is totally undemocratic and an attack on private property rights.
“Then you have the Ihumateo shambles, also an attack on private property rights. Fletcher Residential owns the land and has all the development consents, but the land is being occupied by Maori protesters. And the government won’t do a thing about it. They want the parties to sit down and talk.
This is all signs of a government that doesn’t have a clue.
“I could go further. There has been a constant attack on landlords by this government, with the result that rents are skyrocketing, landlords are getting out and homelessness is increasing.
Entry level houses in Auckland are pushing seven figures.
“Winston Peters is a handbrake on some of the more extreme measures. It was him who put the kibosh on the proposed capital gains tax. However punitive new requirements have been placed on landlords, requiring them to upgrade their properties and outlay sometimes large amounts on insulation. Meanwhile the government has made it much harder to get rid of tenants.
“The government also banned foreigners from buying property, save for Australians and Singaporeans. I read yesterday that welfare expenditure had skyrocketed under this government, with no measurable improvement in outcomes. Child poverty is no better, numbers on welfare has increased, homelessness has increased and violent crime has increased. The health system is a shambles with people waiting so long for treatment it is often too late.”
Dino declared:
“Ardern was thrust into the spotlight after a terrible circumstance, mosque shooting. Leaders, like Ardern, in this type of situation are often hailed as god-sending considered strong, like Winston Churchill. They aren’t, the circumstances were strong, like WWII, but they’re just people and are fallible.
“Churchill created many stuff ups, like the fiasco at Gallipoli, but he was able to stay around For many year but he too was thrown out by the disgruntled public in UK after the war ended. Why venerate these people? Politicians, like car and real estate salespeople, are generally all bottom feeders; they rely on dirt, lies and misinformation to push their own personal agenda. They aren’t altruistic. It’s universal and any sane adult knows it’s a global phenomenon. Ardern, in NZ, is no better just another politician that has had her turn in the celebrity sun although she did the right thing after the mass shootings.”
Christine countered:
“Take a step back Dino. You’re a bit rough on Winston Churchill. Most of his cabinet and most parliament were in the pits of despair, and without Churchill would have done a deal with the Nazi psychopaths. There goes Britain and most of Europe.”
Jeremy’s view:
“ ‘She is regarded as a bit of a show pony who is not delivering’. A female, New Zealand version of Malcolm Turnbull.”
Balanced from Brad (the quiet Australian):
“I don’t think she’s as bad as that but it’d be nice if she’d ditch the fashion parades and interference across the ditch and just pay closer attention to local affairs. Australia doesn’t need a constant lecture on how to manage its affairs and we are once again the undisputed world leader in border protection.”
Last word to David:
“As a NZer who returned home after 30 years in Aus, I despair at the way this govt has run this country in the last two-and-a-half years. Like Australia, our farmer are probably the most efficient and innovative in the world. Like you, there are no subsidies for us.
“This government with its climate change obsession is planning to bring a methane tax, restrict farmers use of water, refusing to allow more dams to be built, and wanting to restrict spending on badly needed roading infrastructure.
“They also shut down literally overnight all future offshore oil and gas exploration. While nowhere near as big as Aus, NZ still earned over $2 billion PA in oil exports. plus has massive potential gas fields off the coast of the South Island. So once the current fields off Taranaki run out we will be reliant on imported gas.
“All this is being done to make this mob feel good about doing something to save the planet but unfortunately we will be the ones left to pick up pieces. And the strange thing is 85pc of our power comes from hydro and a further 5pc from wind. So I think we are already doing our bit.”
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