Shuffling in the cabinet

THE national cabinet was hailed as one of the key devices in Australia’s thus-far superior handling of the coronavirus crisis. Activated on March 14, at a time when most predictions about what the nation could expect in the coming months were dire, it has proven an effective and worthy forum to coordinate the government effort.

While having different premiers from different political parties was always going to be unwieldy — and there were several bumps along the way — the terrifying possibility of losing thousands of Australian lives meant politicking was kept to a minimum.

Somehow, Prime Minister Scott Morrison managed to convince six state and two territory governments to use their police forces to enforce unprecedented legislation around social distancing.

On the health front, there is the sense the Federal Government’s assistance has been welcomed, rather than characterised as an unwelcome intervention, as it so often is. To some extent, this period is likely to be remembered as one of redemption for Mr Morrison.

The contrast between his COVID-19 response and the ragtag effort he offered Australians during the summer’s bushfires is a stark one.

To give credit where it is due, he has succeeded in finding unity across the political spectrum at a crucial moment and, in so doing, has helped save many lives.

Indeed, the success thus far has led to many calling for the national cabinet to be continued in place of the Council of Australian Governments — which has so often become a mere stage for our leaders to grandstand, rather than a forum leading to meaningful change. Yet, as we enter the recovery phase, the cracks are beginning to show wider and wider and, as with all good things, there is the sense this couldn’t last forever.

We have some states indicating they are unhappy at the PM’s no-nonsense approach to China and his insistence on an inquiry into the origins of COVID-19.

It may seem understandable to some Australians for state premiers to express their views on foreign policy — especially when it carries serious economic impacts for constituents.

However, it is also worth remembering the drafters of the Australian Constitution handed the nation’s ability to enter into an international treaty solely to the Federal Government.

This was done for a very good reason — and that is that partisanship is the enemy of clear positioning, and disunity is often death in a global context where international reporting can easily miss the subtleties of domestic politics.

Another widening divide appears to be emerging over when various states should open their borders.

Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein has always been clear we will be waiting until July to consider this. In contrast, a war of words over the issue has broken out between Western Australia’s Labor Premier Mark McGowan, Queensland’s Labor Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and New South Wales’ Liberal leader Gladys Berejiklian.

One suspects this is largely motivated by the political desire to tap into popularity points offered by the appearance of staunch parochialism, rather than any genuine policy concern.

However, if the virus remains under control, the need for domestic tourism to prop up the flailing sector — which has lost all valuable international visitors — is likely to become a hotter and hotter issue. One suspects Mr Morrison’s toughest leadership challenge — holding together his national cabinet as pressure mounts — is yet to come.

Responsibility for all editorial comment is taken by the Editor, Jenna Cairney, Level 1, 2 Salamanca Square, Hobart, TAS, 7000