I feel grateful enough for the priority of public health. How far it dominates society is really very surprising.

Public health is a worthwhile priority in and of itself, to the point it now seems, it has arisen as the new order.

It’s impact on personal freedom is unprecedented. It’s most valid weapon urgency.

I think it’s more a question of should we trust doctors to rule. Most people trust their doctor in the quest for longevity.

Looks like they win.

Dan

Sorry Dr Young, but I have to disagree with your diagnosis. Models are never ever perfect! And as long as the emphasis has been on containing the spread! The spread will continue, hopefully with an acceptable level of casualties, you, me?

Models cannot predict lack of compliance! Nor what the illicit drug trade and addiction will do to border closures, lockdowns and subsequent transmission rates.

Covi-19 is now spread by infected humans, 6 out of 7 who may show no symptoms i.e., Asymptomatic?

Moreover, to your central point, confidence has never yet cured a transmissible disease!

I get that you want the economy restarted!? And here's how that may be done ASAP! First we need the 95% accurate, Israeli Saliva test (licence to manufacture) with verifiable results in seconds.

Then deploy it and pop up labs at all borders, i.e., at the nearest available bridge! And at the exit and entry points of all transport terminals, airports and Supermarkets. Assisted by photo I.Ds.

Those testing positive sent immediately to one of our currently disused refugee internment camps. And let the barbed wire and dog patrols ensure compliance.

Given the saliva sample can also be tested for illicit drugs at the mandatory testing point. They can also be caught in the same net.

Interred drug addicts to have their scrips doled out daily so they can't do what many do and routinely O.D. When three tests confirm a negative result, detainees allowed to return to their domiciles and workplaces.

Except maybe, the addicts? I mmean they are already over-represented and a huge impost on the health budget and social cohesion!

Six months cold turkey in a detention centre may be a better outcome, especially for ice addicts and suppression of that market?

Do just that much and the economy can fully reopen As soon as this model is in place!
Alan B.

Dear GrahamY,

Sorry mate but a paywalled link from the Daily Telegraph is hardly the thing to be using as proof that the Doherty Institute got anything wrong.

Do you have anything more open and substantial for review by the ordinary punters like myself?

The Australian Government has announced it will extend the human biosecurity emergency period under the Biosecurity Act 2015 by an additional three months.*

The emergency period, which has been in place since 18 March 2020, will now be in place until 17 December 2020.

Apparently “The extension of the emergency period was informed by specialist medical and epidemiological advice provided by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC).”

What is this “specialist medical and epidemiological advice”?

The influence of the, unelected, members of the AHPPC is impacting on the freedom of all Australians, it’s way past time for transparency and accountability.

* Human Biosecurity Emergency Period Extended By Three Months. Elizabeth HartMinister for Health media release, 3 September 2020.

You are dreaming Graham if you think dictator self interested pollies/premiers are going to interpret data and make policy in a rational way. Look at the billions wasted on the gw scam only to cause electricity prices to skyrocket while causing China to laugh in our face. These irrational policies largely endorsed by cowardly Liberal pollies who know the IPCC data as being corrupt and the UN being a joke. So then we move to the Coronavirus, more than likely coming from a Chinese lab, sent throughout the world and the handling by Chinese defended by who. The who, who said their was no human to human transmission, said wearing face masks were a waste of time and called Trump racist for telling the truth and acting swiftly. Anyone that thinks a rational response was ever possible is dreaming especially when we have the press (the enemy of the people) backing and cheering evert draconian law and demonising any rational person questioning the stupidity of locking down healthy people.

Dear Elizabeth Hart,

Being essentially an anti-vaxxer you obviously have a problem accepting well informed advice to government.

But be that as it may the four areas this extension covers are;

Restrictions on the entry of cruise ships into Australia
Protections for the supply and sale of certain essential goods
Restrictions on overseas travel
Restrictions on retail stores at international airports

Are you really saying we need to open up to cruise ships again to restore our freedoms?

To me the measures above are entirely appropriate and would be supported by the wide majority of Australians.