TONY SHERBON Principal, Sherbon Advisory
COVID-19: Key policy issues in Australia’s bid to reopen
Australia has acted swiftly and effectively to limit the spread of COVID-19 and is now taking
limit the morbidity and mortality of outbreaks. Our next steps as a nation and as part of a
steps to reopen the economy. As states and
global community will be key in how we restore
territories carefully calibrate strategies to
our economy and our community in the post-
reopen their economies, Australia must now
COVID-19 world.
deal with some looming policy issues. It is inevitable that some COVID-19 outbreaks
We will learn to live with the virus as we reopen the economy. This means that we turn our minds
will occur in coming weeks. Even in states and
to the definitive prevention of COVID-19 through
territories with ‘tight’ border closures, road and
vaccination, effective treatment of severe cases,
air freight traffic is still operating so it is highly likely
and gradual restitution of overseas travel.
that outbreaks will occur even in these jurisdictions. The combination of widespread testing,
There are over 30 projects underway globally to find an effective and safe vaccine for COVID-19.
comprehensive contact tracing assisted by
There are no vaccines currently ready to go to
automation through the COVIDSafe app, and prompt
market for coronaviruses in humans, although some
isolation of identified cases and contacts should
do exist in animals. The search for a vaccine will
limit the impact of these unavoidable outbreaks.
be complicated but it is likely that a vaccine will
Regional rather than state-wide restrictions will
be available some time during 2021.
likely form the basis for control of extensive
The policy issues for Australia will centre on
outbreaks. An emphasis on voluntary stay-at-home
access to this vaccine. Firstly, will we be able
guidelines for the elderly and vulnerable will help
to procure a vaccine in sufficient volumes if it is
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The Health Advocate • AUGUST 2020
