Timing the economy to fit a pandemic election is a tricky business

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The modelling’s been done, the reopening targets set. But the coronavirus and its variants may not be compliant with Scott Morrison’s economic re-election masterplan, writes 1RossGittins | OPINION

So, with Scott Morrison pulling the new AUKUS pact out of his hat, will we be off to a khaki election? It would hardly be the first election conservative governments have won by promising to save us from the threat to our north.

Does it surprise you that Morrison’s so keen to see the south-eastern mainland states out of lockdown and the others opening their borders, and is pressing the premiers accordingly? He desperately needs the economy back looking trim and terrific by March – May at the latest. NSW is projected to be only about a week ahead of Victoria, and the gap between 70 and 80 per cent only about two weeks.Everyone’s so pleased to be getting on with it that we risk losing sight of the high risks the two premiers are running. If all goes to plan, we’ll be back to a new normal by early next year, and the economy will be humming in time for a March election.

The risk Andrews and Berejiklian face is that so many unvaccinated people contract the virus that our hospital system is overwhelmed, with people dying because they were turned away, leading to a number of deaths the public finds unacceptable. Whether they press on or turn back, the premiers would be in deep trouble.

Even the decision to move as soon as the 70 and 80 per cent targets are reached, rather than wait another fortnight for vaccines to become fully effective, carries a risk of higher infection.

 

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1RossGittins ScottMorrisonMP shouldn’t be re elected he needs to go. He has misled Australians, he lacks leadership, no accountability, no transparency and no integrity and I’m a Liberal voter!!

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