Surely it's time the PM stepped in over all these border closures?

Once again, Daniel Andrews has demonstrated his inability to develop a proportionate response to COVID-19. We have a very low level of infection in Australia and the level of community infection in NSW has been controlled without heavy-handed restrictions. Why does the Victorian government require a visa — because that is effectively what it is — for any Australian to enter Victoria?

How can such a restrictive action be taken when there is demonstrably no state of emergency either in Victoria or anywhere in Australia? Surely a declared state of emergency requires an actual emergency?

This action must be legally challenged. I am most concerned that some of the restrictions imposed during this pandemic will never be fully lifted when the threat, such that it is, has been reduced.

Stephen Clarke, Kew, Vic

I disagree with your editorial “Leadership transcends borders” (13/1). As West Australian residents in our 70s we could well be dead if it hadn’t been for the imposition of border closures by our state government. Talking to friends in the eastern states constantly brings confirmation of just how much citizens will tolerate under duress.

John Bain, South Bunbury, WA

Surely the federal government can declare a national emergency with COVID-19 and exercise wartime powers over state governments to control the spread of the virus?

Clearly, some state governments have been making decisions about lockdowns that the public find questionable. During our summer, we should be encouraging people to be outdoors, subject to very strict rules and social distancing, including compulsory wearing of masks.

From what I can deduce listening to experts about the pandemic, it is going to be a lengthy time before herd immunity is reached.

Howard Vains, Cremorne, NSW

Could this get any worse for the spin doctors in government? Greg Hunt, still smarting from loss of the Queensland University vaccine, now has to explain his way out of the other much touted vaccine, Oxford-AstraZeneca. An infectious diseases physician and professor at Monash University, Michelle Ananda-Rajah, has come forward to say she did not feel confident with AstraZeneca as it’s efficacy is about 62 per cent and would not provide the much-needed and expected herd immunity benefit (“Vaccine ‘not good enough to stop the virus'", 13/1). She said the government should focus on the other two, Moderna and Pfizer, which would give 95 per cent protection. It would seem Greg Hunt and his minions have their work cut out for them selling this silver bullet that is turning out to be the “Clayton’s vaccine”.

Christopher Woodley, Vaucluse, NSW

Women at Mass

How magnanimous of Pope Francis to formally bestow on Catholic women “permission” to read prayers and scripture at Mass (“Pope sets down in law church roles for women”, 13/1), a practice that has been undertaken for years but is only now being enshrined. It’s time for women to undertake more meaningful leadership roles and positions in the church, including as deacons and priests?

Angela Kueter-Luks, Bruce, ACT

Cricket betrayal

The Indian cricket team fought bravely and skilfully to rescue the third Test. Full credit to them. But I doubt the Australians will manage similar if up against it in Brisbane. You won’t fight for your country if your country won’t fight for you. You especially won’t if you are continually pilloried by your countrymen for what, in the harsh environment of Test cricket, are minor indiscretions or, in the case of Steve Smith, ridiculous and nonsensical allegations (spread, not surprisingly, by English commentators).

Australians seem to be hypersensitive about the reputation of their cricket team. And the Indians are very good at playing up to that. They did it in the 2007-08 series. After Australia had snatched an amazing, thrillingly unexpected win at the death in Sydney, and with their star spinner up on a charge of racial vilification, India played the “Ugly Australian” card, bringing down the disapprobation of the entire nation on a team that had, against all odds, just equalled a record that was supposed to be untouchable.

Ricky Ponting’s men went to Perth feeling completely belittled and, with nothing but their own averages to play for, proceeded to lose.

Now it is happening again. And you have to admire the way the Indians have done it. Sledging is the dark art of making comments to distract and unsettle your opponents. Despite it being widely practised by all teams, Australia had the reputation of being the masters of it on the field. India is proving itself the master of it off the field.

Richard Ward, Willoughby, NSW