A poll put out by Channel 9 News yesterday. This was the actual number of news followers and onshore Australians who want the borders closed. The poll now reflects higher numbers of โnoโ as the poll was circulated around the #strandedaussie groups who made their voices heard. But these numbers are clear, and they are reflective of the larger Australian population. Australian mateship is a myth. This was never about safety. If it was, the Australian Open would not have gone ahead. If it was, the Australian public would be wearing masks and social distancing and engaging in proper hygiene. No, this is about the Australian public wanting to continue life as normal and ignore Australiaโs global responsibilities in this worldwide pandemic. And to a large degree, life has gone on as normal for them. But it has come at the enormous cost of dividing the country and leaving tens of thousands of Australian citizens overseas to die. It has come at the cost of human rights, and human decency, and compassion. Australia is not a country to aspire to in terms of COVID response. The world should be appalled at how it has treated itโs citizens.
