Coronavirus: No quick fix, declares strong Scott Morrison

Prime Minister Scott Morrison at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: Gary Ramage

It was a determined and strong Scott Morrison on display on Wednesday. What mattered was his dual warning for the nation. There is no draconian two-week “quick fix” to annihilate COVID-19, with the government gearing for a struggle over “at least six months” but still seeking “to keep Australia functioning”.

This rejects the approach of ­social shutdown, embraced by much of Europe and some US states. Instead of shutdown, Morrison and Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said Australia’s strategy comprised measures that were “sustainable” and “geared for the long haul”.

Murphy could not have been clearer: “A short-term, two to four-week shutdown of society is not recommended by any of our ­experts. It does not achieve anything.”

He said there was “no way” Australia could “lock down ­society, make everyone stay home” and think that would beat the virus a month down the track.

Morrison’s long haul can be summarised in two notions: tough but still functioning: that is the key to the measures he announced.

Many will disagree fundamentally but it is time to drop the line about Morrison not being clear.

He said the latest measures were based on recommendations of health experts, state and federal, backed by the national cabinet, the PM and premiers. Many people still seem not to grasp there is an unprecedented national cabinet and these are decisions from the national cabinet. Morrison said the aim was to “keep our country running in the best possible way” but while functioning “it won’t look like it normally does”.

That means a travel ban on Australians going abroad — for the first time in history. The purpose is to strike at the foreign sources of the virus, with 70 per cent of infected cases still related to ­foreign travel. The ban on indoor gatherings of more than 100 people means hotels, restaurants, religious centres and social gatherings are not banned but subject to a strict limit. That won’t stop staff losing their jobs but it keeps places open.

The same thinking applies to schools. Morrison and Murphy were emphatic: the health advice is for schools to remain open. If schools close, that will be for at least six months; it would affect 30 per cent of health workers. Morrison said his own children would attend school. Murphy said parents must ensure sick children stayed home but “we believe very strongly” it was in the best interests for schools to remain open — a judgment under assault from some independent and Catholic schools, unions and commentators.

The government has put restrictions on access to aged-care facilities. It is reviewing what parts of the country need to become exclusion zones. Morrison said domestic air travel was “low risk”. The 100-person indoor limitation was subject to many “essential” exemptions including public transport facilities, medical centres, courts, stores, shopping centres, factories, construction and mining sites. He called the hoarding from supermarkets ridiculous and un-Australian and said “it must stop”.

By drawing his policy at this stage, so clearly, Morrison will invite attack from critics who believe the government has misjudged the crisis and needs to embrace a tougher, more protective shutdown immediately. His approach is measures that are “scalable and sustainable” and he made clear that firmer approaches will be applied if and when necessary. He appealed to people to keep their heads while stating that “life is changing in Australia” and will continue to change.