Lessons in leadership from the Victorian lockdown

A welcome change in tone by Victorian officials gives some hope that the two-week Covid-19 lockdown can be brought quickly to an end. After shocking citizens with overly inflammatory rhetoric about the beastly virus last week there is a sense that things are back under control. This includes a notable change in language regarding contact tracing and about how decisions are being made. The change was evident on Monday when, despite a further 11 cases being recorded, health officials said they were confident the outbreak had been contained. Those who tested positive were already in quarantine and unlikely to have spread the infection. This is a positive reflection on the state of Victoria’s much lamented contact tracing ability. It is also an indication that the lockdown has allowed a circuit-breaker to get things under control. However, given the relatively low number of cases overall, the lockdown appears to have been another case of overkill.

On the positive side, the Victorian outbreak and lockdown have sent a strong message about the need for people to get vaccinated. There has been a sharp uptick in vaccinations nationwide. It has given a new impetus for the federal government to get the vaccine rollout right. And it has allowed the Morrison government to put some limits around when it can be called on for financial assistance to cover decisions taken by the states. A big lesson to be drawn from the latest lockdown in Victoria is that state leaders have been too eager to shift the blame for failings under their watch. This is highlighted by confirmation that an outbreak of the concerning Delta variant of the virus had not come from NSW, as suggested by Victoria officials, but had originated within the state’s own quarantine system at the Novotel/Ibis Melbourne Central hotel in Little Lonsdale St.

Perhaps the most worrying lesson is that health officials and bureaucrats have been given powers and responsibilities beyond their station because of the pandemic. It is easy to sympathise with Victorian chief health officer Brett Sutton, who has been thrust into the spotlight from what had been a relatively obscure position pre-Covid. Nonetheless, the language he has adopted has been unnecessary and likely to produce adverse health outcomes of their own. His description of the virus as a “beast” that had “moved faster than any other strain we’ve dealt with, and we’re seeing transmission in settings and circumstances we’ve never seen before” was uncalled for and ultimately not borne out by the facts.

The biggest criticism, however, must be reserved for state politicians who have failed in their leadership duties by hiding behind public health officials. The idea that politicians should stand up in front of the public and say they are taking the advice of health officials, full stop, is ridiculous. As we have said repeatedly, good leadership entails hard decisions and calculated risk. The issues to be considered regarding closing borders and locking down citizens are not confined to the one-dimensional task of limiting infections. As we have reported throughout the pandemic, there are other real-world health implications from lockdowns. These include mental health issues, as documented by Victorian editor Damon Johnston on Saturday, and the financial stresses caused by an inability to work or maintain a business.

It is a great tragedy that too many politicians have shown themselves not to be brave enough to take advice and make prudent decisions. On this score NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has shown that she alone has had the courage to assess risk, take responsibility and balance the difficult choices. Fortunately, Victoria appears finally to have emerged from its self-imposed panic phase and an end to the lockdown is in sight. The lockdown should be lifted as soon as possible and other restrictions eased. Citizens and business owners in Victoria are entitled to feel they have suffered disproportionately.