The riskiest thing about risk assessment is the risk assessors themselves - as Essery calls them, "unseen bureaucrats". We have seen them in action, with their economy wrecking models on climate change, and now going berserk, really wrecking the economy, over the China virus. Most of them don't have even a passing acquaintance with the science involved - and that's just the dunderheads we know about; who knows what other shysters are secretly whispering in the ears of our so-called leader, a very easily-led and risk-averse person.

Given the mess society and the economy is now in, God save us from risk assessors and their models in the future. Catastrophes occur, people die - but not many - and life resumes afterwards on the back of strong leadership, strong economics and a strong belief in democracy.

Not this time though.

Well said tbnn. The real test for Brett Walkers inquiry is that he gets to the truth, not what NSW Health, Premiers and Cabinet and the other departments involved want his team to here.

The almost instant actions by him, seems to indicate he will be forensic and thorough, much like the commissioner (Hail?) who ran the banking inquiry. If so, heads will be rolling and the number of bluffocrats claiming PTSD" injuries will rise quicker than the COVID-19 numbers did!

They should get Essery or others not connected with the NSW government consulting gravy train to review that risk assessment process that NSW Health put such faith in.

I can recall examining the woeful Risk Assessment frameworks set up here for water which where based on WHO methods.... Hmmmmnn there is that trail again THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION, one of the most important, BUT tainted UN programs.

Perhaps? Maybe? None greater than the risks pursued by the Nazi regime, who like the Author or the earlier commentary, see other living breathing human beings as numbers or worse, feral vermin?

IF THE CAP FITS?

The real risk to political outcomes, is to allow any of the above vociferous MINORITY, to have any say or import into policy! Any more than we would for gun-toting rednecks?

Or, than one would allow completely dispassionate A.I to decide public policy or social security! Albeit, some of it seems to be done via that method already? Robo-debt anyone?

We face a greater economic crisis any have seen or lived through since the Great Depression and allowing the sort of BS offered here as rational discourse, to figure in any of the post-pandemic, economic recovery! Would all but guarantee, just such an outcome!

I mean, if we allow public policy to be guided by the author or professional fault-finders like the two previous commentators, clearly driven by dehumanised insensitivity and or, vested self-interest ( i.e., me, me, me)? We can make the Great Depression look like a Sunday School Picnic? And the most credible R.A.

Seriously, of all the risks we face here and now, the greatest is to allow the aforementioned expressed sentiment to drive us even further onto each other as a further divided rebellious leaderless rabble?

And in so doing, do greater harm than what would happen as we fight each other over the spoils of defeat or the last packet of toilet rolls! And almost ensure, we would become the poor southern state of expansionist, colonising Chi-nia! Clearly, a fool never ever learns, from his own mistakes or those of others!

There are none so blind, Quote, unquote.
Alan B.

Consider this. Most people these days carry a mobile phone which has blue tooth technology actively running. If those people who still have the virus have this information added to their phone, this information could be continuously transmitted by their blue tooth. If this information could also be detected by other phones, the receiver of this information could receive a warning and remove themselves from the threat. It shouldn't be too difficult to have the software written to accomplish all this and perhaps would be an incentive for people to voluntarily download it. The current plan seems to have no such incentive.

David

The luvies of this world would have a fit. They can't cope with whats proposed. Your correct it would be easier to do, but then know it alls like Alan B would start off again.

By the way Alan B, what do you mean by the authors and author commentators being like the Nazi's? Or you serious! Come either stop drinking before noon or get your hand of what ever it hangs on to. Really, you need to calm down..

Any sign of that article you promised... I can even set up a snail mail address (PO box) or you could drop it in on Drop Box?

How about we go back to the days when lepers had to bang two bits of wood together and shout, "Unclean, Unclean" whenever they went out in public. Come to think of it, our economy and political rights are fast going back to that era now.