Fewer Australians will accept lockdowns in future pandemics, report says

SYDNEY – Australians have lost trust in their government, and many are likely to resist drastic health measures in a future pandemic, the first review of the country’s Covid-19 response has shown.

The cost of vaccine delays, meanwhile, ran into A$31 billion (S$26.9 billion).

Rebuilding and maintaining trust was key to fighting future pandemics, the 877-page report released on Oct 29 said. It found programmes like vaccine mandates left a legacy of fewer vaccinations for Covid-19 and other diseases today.

“Community feedback suggests that since the pandemic, some mainstream audiences have become more sceptical and critical of government decision-making,” it said.

“The initial high level of adherence and cooperative response to significant restrictions is unlikely to be repeated in a future public health emergency.”

In a response credited with helping keep the rate of excess deaths among the lowest in the world, Australia shut its borders to non-citizens in March 2020 and did not reopen them until the following October.

Various states also enforced months-long lockdowns throughout 2020 and 2021.

However, a 2024 survey cited in the Oct 29 report found a third of respondents thought the government overreacted to the pandemic.

The report also found that controversial delays in acquiring and rolling out Covid-19 vaccines cost the economy A$31 billion.

Australia said it would immediately act on one of the 26 recommendations in the report by providing A$252 million to fund a permanent Centre for Disease Control to plan for future pandemics.

Health Minister Mark Butler said the government would study the report closely and decide later on other recommendations. REUTERS