Finding scapegoats may bring us together but it doesn’t deal with structural problems or government inaction that allow this virus to spread | OPINION
As Australians, we love to indulge in a bit of finger-pointing. And now, more than ever, our primal need for certainty has us seeking to lay blame and find fault in the midst of a pandemic, where little certainty exists.
It’s a clever little trick that means governments can avoid responsibility for cockups which are the result of their own policies, by instead blaming citizens who appear to have broken the rules. Premier Daniel Andrews said anyone found guilty of similar breaches had “every chance of becoming very famous” suggesting he’d be willing to publicly name and shame such baddies. Stoking the public's anger, COVID-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar vowed “the wheels of justice will get them". But that never happened.
The limousine driver dubbed Sydney’s “patient zero” and “barbecue man″ were both blamed for kicking off outbreaks north of the border. Both were cleared of any wrongdoing.Earlier in the outbreak, Queensland authorities pinpointed a tradie, who also worked as a male entertainer and was infected with COVID-19 while performing at a hen’s party, as spreading the virus across the border into NSW.
Such a narrative implies an individual's hesitancy, laziness or selfishness is to blame if they get sick, freeing the government of responsibility when it comes to equitable vaccine access or a better communications strategy.
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