Australia’s COVID derangement syndrome intensifies

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Earlier this month I claimed Australia had caught “COVID derangement syndrome” after multiple states and territories abruptly closed their borders to Brisbane and imposed draconian isolation requirements after only one local COVID-19 case was recorded, in turn plunging the travel plans of thousands into disarray:

These knee jerk lockdowns make a mockery of the change in the national anthem’s lyrics to “we are one and free”.

We are more divided than ever, too willing to throw up the state shutters at the earliest opportunity.

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About the author
Leith van Onselen is Chief Economist at the MB Fund and MB Super. He is also a co-founder of MacroBusiness. Leith has previously worked at the Australian Treasury, Victorian Treasury and Goldman Sachs.