Jack,
I believe it was probably easier for the a Liberal government to do this, than a Labor government; If Labor had been in, I can only imagine the screeching from the radiowaves and murdoch press throughout the pandemic. With their own boys in power, they had no other answer to give, and so toed the party line. Laborites aren't making a fuss because this is probably what they would have done anyway.
Nevertheless, I could see just how bitter a pill this has been for Scomo to swallow. He was pushed and prodded into this, from both the state governments and the scientific community. The Italian crisis came just swift enough for a visual clue of what waited for the tardy, with no thanks to China who have basically covered most of it up. I am sure the Chinese story has much, much more to tell.
Putting it as politely as I can, I cannot see how much of the world, including us, can move back to the same relationship with China as they/we had before this. At the very least, our total reliance on their production has been laid bare, and our helplessness should the pandemic hit us full stride will be terrible to behold. This country desperately needs to take the reigns back of production for medical and other necessities at the least. The same helplessness would occur had this been the start of a war. This has been a greater eye opener than even I had thought it would be, regarding just how pathetic this country really is in isolation.
This is going to be a long slog, with plenty of 'fun' yet to come. There is going to be an angry world that emerges from this, it only remains to be seen what action that angry world will take.
Last edited by Sapper; 03/04/20 04:44 PM.
