Sky News host Chris Kenny says while Australia has fared better than other countries during the pandemic because of the actions taken by state and federal governments, “our success has come at an enormous cost”.
“We have killed off jobs and businesses, kept families apart, ruined careers, disrupted educations, crushed communities and set ourselves back economically,” he said.
“More importantly, we have burdened our children and their children with a thousand billion dollars of debt – yes a trillion dollars of debt. So we should avoid self-congratulation.
“National lockdowns, closed state borders, kids banned from school, a curfew in Melbourne, people banned from leaving home, forced to wear masks even when walking alone, and people arrested for posting dissenting views on social media.
“None of this was necessary. None of this was needed. It caused enormous pain, and it has given state governments – in particular – a power trip.”
Mr Kenny said the “jumpy mentality” of all the states – except New South Wales – was dangerous because it hurt people socially and economically.
“West Australian Premier Mark McGowan wouldn’t even travel to Canberra for today’s national cabinet meeting because it would be against his state’s rules for him to fraternise with a South Australian,” he said.
“There is no doubt we could have controlled the virus with much less onerous restrictions. New South Wales has proven that.
“It’s had the biggest challenge, with the most people coming back into quarantine and the heaviest density suburbs yet it has coped with the least restrictions.
“The other state premiers have been on power trips, kicking the can down the generations in the form of debt and wasted opportunities.
“Let’s hope the vaccines are super effective because we have not done our best when it comes to learning to live with the virus.”