Dangers of absolute power in times of pandemic

Given that 99.9 per cent of Victorians are in no way responsible for the plight we are enduring, it seems unfair that those responsible for the bungling of hotel quarantine and the inadequate and prompt contact tracing aren’t immediately removed from office. The trust and respect of 6.5 million Victorians are being undermined by one man, our Premier (“With democracy paused, Big Brother runs Victoria”, 14/9). Victorians, in the main, have been compliant, trusting and law-abiding; however, our patience has virtually run out. Demonstrations at Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Market were a manifestation of Melburnians’ utter frustration.

In many Asian cultures, the term often used is “losing face” when a once-trusted individual utterly loses, through their own ineptitude, community faith and confidence in their leadership. Daniel Andrews, you have irretrievably and irrevocably lost face and according to tradition, if you retain any remnant of honour, should immediately fall on your sword.

Lyle Geyer, Essendon, Vic

The commitment to the tightest of controls in Victoria by the Premier and his officials is unwavering. It reminds me of a story my dad told me about the last days of the Chifley Labor government. Dad had worked for Ben Chifley during World War II.

Robert Menzies wanted to end petrol rationing at the 1949 election, while Chifley remained resolute that it should remain. His officials advised that terrible, terrible things would happen if rationing stopped. Menzies won and removed rationing. And in Dad’s words, “nothing happened”.

The war gave Chifley and his officials immense control over society and the economy. And I think that, having had such great power, they found it hard to let go. We should all be thankful that the Victorian lockdown is lasting only six months rather than six years — well, at this time.

Bill Hartnell, Crows Nest, NSW

Every Australian has watched and formed their own opinion about how this country has been handling COVID-19 and many like me, I’m sure, are astonished at some of the decisions and actions we see daily from those who are meant to be in charge. It seems that power is the Kool-Aid that many can’t seem to get enough.

One example is watching the overreactions of the Victorian police as we see that common sense and empathy for their fellow citizens have been removed from their decision-making processes. When, hopefully, Daniel Andrews is removed at the next election, his replacement will have a huge job to try to help police regain the people’s respect.

Sadly, it’s Labor governments that appear to be on the big power trips, which we should remember as elections come around.

P. Edwards, Safety Bay, WA

We should give thanks to Daniel Andrews for showing us all our future under a left-wing government in times of stress: one man ruling, flanked by willing acolytes; a reduction of parliament to an occasional validator with a bit of crossbench schmoozing; destruction of private businesses and livelihoods; effective house arrest in any emergency situation; shackling of unwise housewives; and no reward for the loss of liberty or livelihood. Such a statement can no longer be dismissed as alt-right raving, given that Andrews’s left-wing colleagues in other states and federally remain tight-lipped and offer no criticism or apparent influence. What’s the phrase beloved of the left? Silence is consent.

Dr Tim Fatchen, Mount Barker, SA

Chris Mitchell’s column (“Left-wing journos need to get their hands off it and stick to fact”, 14/9) nails it. While many like me identify with the left, it’s concerning that too often ideological preferences stand in the way of rational explanations.

The indisputable fact is that the second wave in Victoria was the result of maladministration in the hotel quarantine program. Victoria has recorded 4291 mystery cases since the start of the pandemic, where the source of infection is unknown, while the aggregate in NSW is 395.

This evidence surely points to the inadequacies in Victoria’s contact tracing. Those shortcomings are now being addressed. The recent introduction of new technologies and a boost in staffing resources augurs well. Surely there is value in understanding the reasons for the destructive second wave, not least to be better prepared for dealing with any future pandemic.

Jennie George, Mollymook, NSW