A defining feature of the COVID-19 pandemic, so far, has been the overuse of certain words - the most notable are "unprecedented" and "responsibility" - both carrying their frustrations.
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"Unprecedented" mostly in the sense that we weren't ready for it - the world was unprepared. You might reasonably ask why - especially as this is already the fifth pandemic of this century?
However, with government and politics being consumed these days by short-termism, the focus is more on political survival, of just "getting through it", rather than actually learning from it, and being better prepared for the next one.
The issue of responsibility has reared its head on many occasions - the most notable have been in relation to the handling of the Ruby Princess, quarantine and the crisis in aged care.
Morrison gave a press conference this week using the word "responsibility" on multiple occasions, but not actually wanting to accept any. Unfortunately, the ineffectiveness of our federation - with ill-defined responsibilities, often overlapping and duplicated - encourages what we know as the blame game, where our federal and state politicians point the finger at the other level of government when it comes to accepting/apportioning responsibility.
However, the voters have quickly tired of this game. Responsibility is not something to just talk about, but should be accepted and acted upon with a sense of urgency, not ducked with the effect of just letting the issues drift.
The situation with COVID-19 has become ridiculous. Our border forces were in attendance at the disembarking of the Ruby Princess, but denied any responsibility. Sure, NSW Health made some serious mistakes, but isn't the ultimate responsibility for customs and quarantine a federal responsibility?
Our border forces will stop you bringing a banana into our country, they will turn your boat around if you are an asylum seeker - but when it comes to the quarantining of a virus "their responsibility ends"? Indeed, they act as if they shouldn't even have to answer questions about it! Morrison "stopped the refugee boats" but runs away when it comes to cruise ships - ignoring the significant consequences of this nuance.
Given the overarching federal responsibility, the real failure of the Morrison government was to have not developed an overarching plan, within which various roles - for both federal and state operatives - should have been specified.
This was not a new challenge. The challenge was identified with the arrival of the first direct flight from Wuhan around mid-January. As I texted a colleague back then, all passengers - Chinese, Australian or otherwise - should have been placed in immediate quarantine, setting the precedent for all governments. How much would have this immediate action have better contained the virus? How many lives would have been saved? Similar arguments relate to the treatment of the aged, clearly the most at-risk group in our community. This was also known at the outset. About two thirds of our deaths from COVID have been among the aged, and we have one of the highest aged death rates in the world.
This is a very real price to have paid for the failure of the government to have clearly accepted its overarching responsibility, and to develop an overarching plan for the aged, again within which the various operatives could have carried out their respective roles.
Despite innumerable reviews/reports over decades, the sector has largely been ignored by governments - resulting in a situation now being painfully revealed in the proceedings of the Royal Commission.
COVID has revealed the structural weaknesses of our federation, and the difficulties of pursuing our national interest. A most ridiculous example is the Queensland premier declaring that Queensland hospitals are just for Queenslanders.
False impressions and hopes are also being created about a vaccine. Unfortunately, as has been pointed out by experts, a vaccine won't be a silver bullet.
Even when finally developed, tested and deployed, a vaccine won't be immediately available to all - high-risk individuals and frontline workers will be a priority. Moreover, as US expert Dr Anthony Fauci has said, 50 per cent protection would be considered a success - a little less than the average flu shot and about half that of the standard two doses of a measles vaccine. The ultimate goal is realistically for about 60-80 per cent to have some form of protection, either from immunisation or a previous infection.
With unprecedented unpreparedness, vague responsibilities and even with a vaccine, the desire of many to return to normal may be more a dream than a reality.
Indeed, we should all start focusing on the how we can benefit from making the COVID-induced changes in our behaviours and practices more permanent - and encourage our governments to seize the opportunity to reset our economy and social systems.