Why it’s important to remember ‘we’re all in this together’

Scott Morrison’s call to all Australians rises above the petty parochialism of state premiers, reminds us of our relative success against a global pandemic and clearly points the way ahead (“Vaccination the gold medal we aspire to”, 2/8). If it’s a folksy appeal amid euphoria over Olympic success, surely he can be excused? He has every right to remind us of the support provided by his government, and his apology for the tardy arrival of vaccine supplies should not overshadow the fact the rollout is largely the states’ function. If he disappoints some by throwing his weight behind lockdowns, he is merely reflecting the sentiments of a spooked electorate whose mood the state premiers have long cultivated, regardless of collateral damage. As the PM now concedes, we must all get vaccinated to escape these lockdowns – a cure worse than the disease that makes us a laughing stock elsewhere, considering our relative circumstances.

John Morrissey, Hawthorn, Vic

I am by nature an optimist in the mould of Jennifer Oriel (“Our resilience has silenced Covid prophets of doom”, 2/8) and I admire the Prime Minister’s aim of having 70 per cent of Australians fully vaccinated by Christmas but the podium finish appears nigh impossible. Countries like Britain and the United States are a long way from the mark, even though they began vaccine rollouts last year, and have not suffered vaccine supply issues. With a combination of apathy and fear in the community it’s likely Australia will reach a critical mass of around 50-60 per cent. That should be enough for a return to normality but the evidence to date is that risk aversion trumps all and flexibility is not an option.

Kim Keogh, East Fremantle, WA

Janet Albrechtsen is always worth reading and there was no exception with her article “To address this emergency, PM must resort to urgency” (31/7-1/8). Her advice to our PM makes a salient point about the need for urgent leadership, and is most appropriate, given our current situation with respect to vaccination hesitancy even in the face of the Delta variant. She suggests the PM might take notice of a speech by Israeli PM Naftali Bennett directed to his people. We wish it were so simple. What Albrechtsen may be forgetting is that Israel, a small country in terms of population as well as in area, has only two tiers of government. Here we are burdened by a three-tier system of government in which certain premiers have exercised their power as a manipulative tool against our federal government. Despite national cabinet agreements these premiers cannot resist acting independently. As well, medical advice differs across the states – the Queensland chief medical officer has refused to change her advice on the AstraZeneca vaccine. All this complicates the delivery of vaccines to those most in need, not only in the cities, but also to people living across our vast continent where huge distances and lack of medical resources have to be overcome to achieve 70 per cent vaccination goals.

The comparison many commentators make of our vaccine rollout with smaller countries such as Israel and Singapore is like comparing apples with oranges. Logistically, we have a far greater hurdle to jump. Let’s all co-operate to get this job done as soon as possible.

Rosalind Fischl, Cremorne, NSW

I wonder if or when our politicians are going to stop using the pandemic as a political football. I just heard West Australian Premier Mark McGowan telling the NSW government where it went wrong. I cannot remember him saying the same to the Victorian government last year when many lives were lost owing to its ineptitude.

I suppose that may be because NSW has a Liberal premier and Victoria a Labor one. Please leave the politics out of these trying times. Point scoring won’t do anyone any good, and is a sad reflection on the person trying to make mileage out of someone else’s misfortune.

Derek Hunter, St Morris, SA

George Williams makes some interesting observations concerning “sweeping and often unchecked powers” of commonwealth and state governments to curtail the civil liberties of unvaccinated Australians (“Authoritarian laws for the common wealth and health”, 2/8). The key question is whether an Australian Bill of Rights would override these political powers designed to protect the majority of the community.

Riley Brown, Bondi Beach, NSW