The Victorian government's refusal this week to bow to health advice and reintroduce indoor mask mandates is a welcome sign power is finally returning to ministers - and therefore to voters, writes Caleb Bond.
A cynic might suggest the fact that newly appointed Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas rejected the advice of Acting Chief Health Officer Ben Cowie to reintroduce a mask mandate had something to do with the fact there’s a Victorian election in November.
It has always been a minister’s job to take advice from as many people as possible – this is the point of the upper echelons of the public service – and then make a decision balancing that advice with what is best for their constituents. Banning alcohol would, for instance, be legitimate health advice. But it is preposterous and no minister would ever entertain it.
The Victorian Rural Doctors Association said"personal responsibility is not an effective public health strategy".Sorry, pals. The jig is up. Politicians are now realising they have to do their job – make decisions in our best interests. If it takes an election to make them realise that, then so be it.
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