Coronavirus: Bans on ‘low-risk’ activities are unnecessary, IPA report says

Many social restrictions have been deemed disproportionate to the health risk of COVID-19, according to a report.

Crowds on Queensland’s Surfers Paradise beach on Easter Monday. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Social restrictions on everything from dating to recreational fishing are disproportionate to the health risk of COVID-19, says a report from the Institute of Public Affairs.

National cabinet will meet on Thursday to discuss a path to lift social-distancing rules as the confusion continues over differing ­restrictions in different states.

The IPA, which has attracted the ire of left-wing commentators for its advocacy of opening the ec­onomy early, wants broad ­social-distancing measures to be dumped for a government focus on quarantining vulnerable people instead.

IPA research fellow Morgan Begg told The Australian that the states were misusing public health emergency powers. “The blanket social and economic restrictions imposed by the Australian states are disproportionate to the public health risk and must be gradually withdrawn,” he said.

“New analysis from the IPA has revealed that the social-distancing restrictions enacted by the … states have either banned or left in doubt many recreational activities which have a low risk of transmitting the coronavirus, including reclusive hobbies like fishing or golf.

“Under public health emergency powers, the states have granted themselves extraordinary powers to control the day-to-day lives of Australians. Unfortunately, there has been little debate or scrutiny in parliament about how these directives are defined or enforced.”

The IPA report — States of Emergency: An analysis of the ­impact of COVID-19 pandemic policies on low-risk activities — ­directs its criticism towards NSW, Victoria and Queensland. Victoria is most under fire for its tough restrictions, after its Chief Medical Officer, Brett Sutton, was forced to backflip on banning romantic partners from visiting each other.

NSW and Melbourne police have also been criticised for heavy-handed fines. Premier Daniel Andrews has also banned golfing and recreational fishing.

“The massive democratic deficit has meant blanket restrictions on activities have been introduced without regard to whether those rules are appropriately adapted to the level of risk presented by those activities,” Mr Begg said.