Australia Swears Off Heavy Hand, Braces for Omicron Wave
In a brisk, almost cheeky speech on Tuesday (Dec 21), Prime Minister Scott Morrison scolded the government for being “the heavy hand” in pandemic management and called for a shift to “common sense” and personal responsibility.
“We have got to get past the heavy hand of government and we have got to treat Australians like adults,” Morrison said, almost as if he’d read the whole public’s plea for less draconian measures. “We’re not going back to lockdowns. We’re going forward to live with this virus with common sense and responsibility.”’
Australia’s cases have spiked, hitting a fresh record, sparked by the more infectious Omicron variant. The country’s epidemic has hitherto relied on swift lockdowns and rigorous social‑distancing to keep figures low—about 260,000 cumulative cases and 2,154 deaths. But the Parliament is frantically giving the green light for “reopen‑a‑moment” strategies, with a booster shot drive in full swing. Even the vaccine drives that took a hit last week are back on schedule after a surge in double‑dose uptake.
Health Minister Greg Hunt reassured that only a small minority of Omicron cases are requiring hospital help, a stark departure from the Delta surge, though the numbers are still creeping up. The daily tally today rose to about 4,600—the first time it’s eclipsed the weekend’s high of around 4,100. New South Wales became the first state to top 3,000 cases a day, with Victoria trailing at 1,245. Other states trailed behind.
What’s On The Horizon?
- All states urged to reopen hundreds of immunisation hubs that had been temporarily shut.
- Projected 80 % coverage for double‑dose boosters among people over 16.
- Encouragement for people to navigate contact tracing apps voluntarily, steer clear of heavy mandates, and “live with” Covid‑19.
Bottom Line
Morrison’s address is an invitation for Aussies to take charge, ditch the “big‑hand” bureaucracy, and keep living. Even as the virus surges, the country is positioning itself for a quieter, smarter approach, leaving the lockdowns out of the playbook—at least for now.