Calls for lockdown to end without adequate tracing would trigger third wave

Greg Hunt and John Frydenberg have called for Victoria to lift its lockdown restrictions (“Give people their freedom back”, 15/10). Daniel Andrews knows he has a malfunctioning testing, tracing and quarantine regime that would not cope with spot outbreaks and so has adopted the aim of elimination.

Unfortunately, the federal Health Minister’s proposal would lead to a third wave of virus spread in Victoria; a nightmare for all Victorians and other Australians. While the federal government would have no desire to take over the tracing mess, it must somehow intervene to break the standoff. Letting Andrews stew is appealing politically, but disastrous for the Victorian community.

I suggest the federal government provide a template of a best-practice testing, tracing and quarantine model and offer assistance in meeting these requirements. We know NSW has been effective in containing outbreaks without lockdowns.

Colin J. Agnew, Nedlands, WA

Member for Higgins Dr Katie Allen’s insights into the way forward for Victoria (“Take a breather, Dan, and release lockdown’s grip”, 15/10) makes one think it would be most fruitful to have Daniel Andrews appoint her to his emergency cabinet. Her knowledge and advice would provide much better outcomes for Victorians. The Prime Minister has the national cabinet for that very reason. Instead, the daily lectures from Andrews continue, with five million Melbournians remaining in lockdown.

M. Knight, Malvern East, Vic

There are compelling reasons for the Andrews government to delay as long as possible Melbourne’s return to freedom. Victorian COVID tracing is manifestly inadequate and hence an opening up may well result in a third wave as the tracing fails to get in front of the virus spread.

Yet the Andrews government cannot afford to admit the inadequacy, in the same way it suffers mass amnesia over the hotel quarantine bungle. Andrews, his ministers and senior public servants are in the sights of their own industrial manslaughter (OH&S) legislation. Changing the failed Victorian tracing system would entail an admission it has failed, and would compound liability. Little wonder continuing the lockdown is desired.

Dr Tim Fatchen, Mt Barker, SA

We are in our late 70s and are trapped in The Netherlands indefinitely due to the maniacal restrictions placed on international travel here in the EU and in Australia, which means we will miss the birth of our first grandchild.

We cannot visit our other son in the US for the same reason. Statistics are revealing the survival rates for people under 70 with no comorbidities is more than 95 per cent and the vast majority of deaths in Western countries are now confined to people over 80. The irreparable psychological and economic damage inflicted on families by people like Daniel Andrews will have consequences that will reverberate through the ages.

Peter Jacobsen, New Farm, Qld

Old ways not evil

Just want to say what an insightful and frightening article by Lionel Shriver last weekend (“Life’s a riot for children of the revolution”, 10-11/10). It has been 75 years since we’ve had a world war in which death, suffering and hardship were rife. We’ve become soft, indulgent and ungrateful for how lucky we are to live on this wondrous island. Storm clouds gather internationally on many fronts going into 2021 and we need to be one nation to fight this virus and spiralling debt. It’s time to help each other rebuild our lives, not tear down the walls by pitching the old ways as evil and demanding a utopian future. The 20th century tried that and came up with Mao, Hitler and Stalin. It was Margaret Thatcher who said, “The trouble with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.”

John Partridge, Manly, NSW