Coronavirus Australia: Self-interested ‘fortress’ premiers betray our nation

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan, left, Queensland’s Annastacia Palaszczuk and Victorian leader Dan Andrews

Most of the premiers — not every one — are betraying the compact of free movement within Australia, along with humiliating Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Deny free movement and you deny the essence of nationhood. This is the sad plight to which COVID-19 has reduced Australia. Our unity is smashed; our prospects for national economic recovery are compromised; and our culture has reverted to a reactionary Fortress Australia on state lines.

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Our constitutional inception 119 years ago never envisaged this fracture and it is entirely possible the populist champions of provincialism are acting unconstitutionally. But premiers Annastacia Palaszczuk and Mark McGowan have found a golden path to unimagined popularity.

Understand what is happening — these premiers are safeguarding the interests of their state by punishing the nation and the wider Australian population. They are dividing Australian against Australian. They pose as strong leaders but thrive on soft options.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison holds a National Cabinet meeting in Canberra on August 7. Picture: Adam Taylor/PMO

The tough option requires real leadership — having the courage to work within the national cabinet to contain the virus while backing the opening of the national economy in a staged plan. But Palaszczuk campaigns on Queensland hospitals for Queenslanders and hides behind ludicrous medical tests for NSW as a condition for border reopening.

This week data revealed the most severe economic downturn for Australia since the Great Depression. Morrison called for every leader to come together. And what happened? He has been met with stubborn, self-interested contempt in what may become a dangerous failure for the country.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is unlikely to match the popularity of Palaszczuk or McGowan but she is light years ahead in leadership responsibility.

Meanwhile the omens are more alarming for Victoria — that Dan Andrews, having been responsible for the second wave that engulfed Victoria, plans a slow, complex path out of lockdown. We shall see.

What chance of some premiers being real leaders at national cabinet today? Live in hope but don’t trust in it.