From the desk of Roland Rocchiccioli – 8 August

The anti-lockdown protestors are to be roundly condemned; however, the blatant civil disobedience might be interpreted as a manifestation of a more pernicious malaise: the public’s disillusionment.

AUSTRALIA, like the rest of the world, is struggling to control the COVID-19 pandemic, and the numerous variants of the plague. It is an embarrassment that our vaccination program lags far behind other first world nations. Intriguingly, those countries we deem third world, or developing, are streets ahead of Australia. The current state of public health affairs is a national disgrace, by any standard or judgement.

That many felt compelled to take to the streets in protest is cause for serious disquiet and public rumination. Unequivocally, the offenders should, and must, face the appropriate punishment. Their irresponsible and selfish action has endangered the lives, and livelihoods, of other people; however, professional rabble rousers notwithstanding, the root cause for the blatant disregard of the government’s emergency orders and which has divided the nation, is understandable.

The blame for the debacle must be laid, without prejudice, squarely at the feet of the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison. His lack of leadership, repeated equivocation, and initial failure to grasp the seriousness of the situation, is deeply lamentable. His ineffectiveness deserves the full weight of civic censure.

Clearly, the dissemination of vital information has not met the public’s requirements. Too often we were facing conflicting directives, and hearing contradictory assessments; government disagreeing with health professionals. The persistent lack of administrative cohesiveness in tackling the challenges failed to provide the essential reassuring degree of confidence. The hesitancy to act; its lack of critical understanding; and Mr Morrison’s persistent obfuscation, and his belligerent refusal to apologise for the COVID debacle, raised the ire of many Australians.

Fear has unnerved the nation and sent the disillusioned searching for a solution. Social media and the darknet have displayed their inordinate capacity to create chaos; consequently, extremist conspiracy theories abound, while anti-vaxxers have seized the opportunity to intensify a menacing situation.

Mr Morrison’s lack of judgement was never more obvious than when, in a moment of incomprehensible aberration, he considered offering support to Clive Palmer’s legal challenge of the Western Australian border edict. It was not what the nation expected, regardless of loyalties.

Inane, politically expedient advertising slogans, a panacea designed to placate national anxiety and disingenuously conflating action with catch-phrases, is no solution. ‘Gold standard state’, ‘open for business’, and seemingly the Prime Minister’s favourite, ‘how good is Australia?’ (not very, actually!), are pointless, and baffling. They constipate the national dialogue; compound the felony, and irritate.  A public health catastrophe is not an occasion for party-political point scoring, or vacuous warm, fuzzy marketing jargon.

Mr Morrison’s ambiguous promise to ‘ramp-up’ vaccines provided him a lack-of-action denial opportunity. It was, he contended, misinterpreted.

Perceived or otherwise, the Prime Minister’s refusal, or inability, to treat all states and territories equally has led to an unhealthy schism. Where he should be governing for all Australians, his penchant for like-minded administrations is setting state-against-state. His ineptness has created a palpable hostility which is regrettable. The uncertainty does nothing for the greater cause; nor does it help to ease the pressure. It creates a discontent and unnecessary resentment. History has shown: Such internal treachery leads to civil war.

In times of a national emergency there is one imperative required to deal with a prevailing maelstrom: a prime minister and a team which is prepared to lead, and to serve. Mantras, contradictions, and misinformation only exacerbate the situation and alarm the populace.

Setting aside personal political preferences, let there be no doubt: had the former Prime Ministers Whitlam, Hawke, Keating, Howard, or Fraser, been at the helm of this pandemic, we would not be struggling with this invidious situation.

The current political state of this nation is scandalous. We must think very seriously before casting our vote at the next election.

Roland can be heard with Brett Macdonald each Monday at 10.45am on Radio 3BA and contacted via [email protected].