Australia has always erred on the side of caution – usually for health reasons. We have always tried to keep out international infection. Our planes have been sprayed, fruit has been confiscated. We have kept our pristine condition as free from infection as we know how.
The system is particularly notable with the state borders. Why are Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia allowed to close their borders to each other? Is this more political than anything? How wrong-headed has the Federation become when people travelling from Victoria through NSW to the ACT cannot move for days beyond Victoria because of bureaucratic malaise in NSW? Something is very wrong. Borders as we know them are a real problem.
What has become glaringly apparent is that this is the time to reform aged care. Surely we must change a system that allows the regulator to be federal, the administration to be a state responsibility, while the great bulk of the day-to-day carriage is with the private sector. Surely this is not what the founders of Federation intended? A clear line of responsibility, particularly funding responsibility, and full accountability should rest with one body.
This is the chance to attempt more fundamental reform. Radical change is now a possibility. Maybe we should be looking at the way we are governed.
Funny how ‘progressive’ Left want weak national borders for illegal immigrants but strong state borders for a virus
How low can you go publishing crap like this? The constitution of Australia does not give a 💩 about your nonsensical opinion.
This report does more damage to the SMH credibility, than makes any sense on reopening or abolishing borders.
Can you imagine the havoc if the NSW/VIC border was open the last two months. What a stupid and short sighted commentary.
I am in regional N.S.W. personally I would like to stop all Sydney people coming to my town which is Covid free. No borders involved.
When state borders are used to protect the people - increase them!! Btw - what happened in the EU with open borders...?!!
What is this garbage ?
No thank you, can’t trust federal government.
Oh ffs. Do some non-partisan reporting. We don’t need this crap in a pandemic.
'David Buckingham is a former chief executive of the Business Council of Australia.'