Misguided Open decision could put Melbourne back in lockdown

The 2021 Australian Open was not only an invitation to chaos but also a tribute to the muddled thinking of the Victorian government. According to Premier Daniel Andrews and his band of loyal ministers no apology was needed to lock out thousands of Victorians from their home state while 1200 international tennis players and their entourages were able to fly into Melbourne.

We are told these measures are needed to ensure no other city steals the Open from Melbourne. Really? The tennis world reveres its Grand Slams and it would be unthinkable, nay, impossible for us to lose this event.

To add insult to injury, some players who failed to meet the rigorous health requirements will not be able to practise before playing a match. Elite athletes simply don’t compete if they don’t have enough practise time. This could give the impression the 2021 Australian Open titles are not really meaningful.

The sensible thing would have been to postpone the event until later in the year. Surely if the Grand Prix could be rescheduled the Australian Open could, too?

Jock Orkin, Mt Waverley, Vic

I do love a good game of tennis and look forward to the Australian Open every year, but I must say the decision to host the Open in this environment is exceptionally short sighted. The health risks on their own are too great, but the political consequences if something goes awry will be relentless. The last thing Daniel Andrews and the Victorian population need now is another hotel quarantine disaster and subsequent lockdown.

Angela Kueter-Luks, Bruce, ACT

Hair test

As an elderly (but still practising part time) scientist I spend time watching the COVID battle on TV. In some states there are long lines of people waiting to be tested in cars. There are photos showing a fully kitted tester at a car window taking a nasal swab. The tester has hair including a pony tail and much of the hair is exposed to the atmosphere.

If the air pressure in the car is even slightly positive with respect to the exterior then the tester will be exposed to air from inside the car and whatever is in the air. And if the next car has negative pressure then the occupants will be exposed to exterior air and whatever is in the tester’s hair. Remote chance? Yes, it is a very low probability — but not zero.

Alan Flavelle, Maylands, WA

Vaccine safety

I refer to the letter by J. Bain criticising the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in comparison with the Pfizer vaccine (“Not all jabs are equal”, 16-17/1). Those of us who will be lining up to receive these jabs need to know that the Oxford vaccine has been developed using an existing technology while the Pfizer vaccine uses a new technology called mRNA.

There has been a big rush to produce these vaccines and I for one am supportive of the government’s approach of taking a more conservative approach and opting for the Oxford vaccine.

Vaccines in the past have taken many years to develop and the Pfizer vaccine may prove in the long run to be the more effective vaccine, but for now let us get vaccinated in the safest possible way.

John Chapman, Thornleigh, NSW

Thanks, Cameron

What a delight it has been over several years to read Cameron Stewart’s informative and balanced reports from Trump’s America. He has been one of the first of your writers I turned to, knowing he would be bang up to date, non-judgmental and relevant. The words flow easily, clear to read and simple to understand for those who may not have had a detailed knowledge of US politics. And how good to know that, although ensconced in a wealthy Democrat area in his “pretty white house” with its Australian flag in the front window, he determined that travelling widely in that huge country, to talk with the less well-off, the unemployed and those who supported Trump was essential to provide his readers with as broad a coverage as possible. Not pushing a political barrow, he has been an impressive example of how a foreign correspondent should be — impartial and accurate. May I wish Cameron a happy landing in his home country for himself, his wife and his son.

Helen Evans, Maleny, Qld

Reverse logic

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said the Australian bushfires released smoke and óther particles into the atmosphere, blocking sunlight and producing a cooling impact on temperatures (“Planet sizzles through hot 2020”, 16-17/1). It also said COVID-19 induced global shutdowns that reduced air pollution and allowed more sunlight to reach the earth, producing a small warming effect. It is no wonder many people, particularly Australians concerned about power security, find the climate change debate confusing.

Tim Carfrae, The Gap, Qld