Dangerous path but PM needs to stay the course on border closures

Simon Benson pretty much sums up where Australians and Scott Morrison are as we continue to combat COVID-19 (“PM vexed by states in a crisis loop”, 31/8). However, there are danger signs for the Prime Minister. After record levels of approval, Winston Churchill and George HW Bush suffered defeat in the subsequent elections after World War II and the Gulf War, respectively. The government’s greatest problem will be weaning people off the generous financial assistance packages. Of course, Labor will oppose any and every avenue Josh Frydenberg pursues to get the economy ticking over again because the majority of people vote for their own welfare and not that of society at large.

Peter D. Surkitt, Sandringham, Vic

George Williams provides many sound reasons Scott Morrison has not intervened on state border closures (“PM has the upper hand on border closures”, 31/8). Williams rightly points out that any legislative move by the Prime Minister might provoke a High Court challenge by the states. He also says that such a move might provide a backlash and erosion of goodwill by the states, which are better resourced to maintain border controls. However, probably the most compelling reason for Morrison to sit on his hands is that he would then own any mistakes made on taking over responsibility for the borders. The Prime Minister has the luxury of blaming premiers for mistakes right now. If he took over the borders, he would have no one to blame but himself for errors made.

David Muir, Indooroopilly, Qld

Elizabeth Kendall argues that Victoria’s COVID-19 fight is mismanaged (“Why I’m bitter about Victoria”, 31/8) and Janet Albrechtsen (“Shock and awfulness of our very own totalitarian state”, 29-30/8) expresses similar sentiments. I am convinced that Victoria’s stage-four lockdown is draconian. Premier Daniel Andrews’s desire to extend emergency measures for a further period is even more extreme. I am reluctant, however, to blame Andrews for this state of affairs, with an investigation in process to establish responsibilities for the disastrous failure in quarantine. The aged-care tragedy is clearly a federal responsibility. This pandemic has demanded unprecedented measures. What is clear now is that Victorians’ mental and physical health and economy are in dire straits. Respectfully, the Premier should review our situation and cut back restrictions.

Bill Mathew, Parkville, Vic

Brave words, Professor Elizabeth Kendall, and thank goodness retirement means you don’t need to front the tertiary tearoom with all the sanctimonious blather about supporting a premier clearly out of his depth and oblivious to his trail of destruction on lives, livelihoods, businesses and jobs. Like you, I’m leaving the woke state with its bloated bureaucracy and a cohort of citizens clearly living in an economic fantasyland.

Roger Gibbons, South Yarra, Vic

While I feel for Elizabeth Kendall and wish her well in her quest for asylum, her bitter outburst at the state of play in Victoria is most interesting — encouraging even. Unlike the commentariat at large, she at least is prepared to put the blame squarely where it lies: with Victorian voters. We need more of such honesty. The Andrews government came to power in 2014 not by an armed coup or by electoral fraud but was properly installed by the voters at a free and fair election. In 2018, the electorate handed the Andrews government an increased majority, and it is odds-on to deliver the same verdict in 2022. Conventional political wisdom holds that people get the governments they deserve. I know about this stuff — I’m a Queenslander.

Terry Birchley, Bundaberg, Qld

Professor Karl H. Rieckmann (Letters, 31/8) rightly queries the unavailability of hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 in this country. Medical authorities here are ignoring the clinical trial evidence that has resulted in its use (early in the infection) in many countries. Is this the ideological result of Donald Trump and Clive Palmer supporting this initiative, or perhaps drug companies wanting to influence the use of more expensive medications? Like the professor, I prescribed and used hydroxychloroquine over many years to treat malaria and support its long safety record.

Graham Pinn, retired consultant physician and tropical medicine specialist, Maroochydore, Qld