Parlous state of Covid consensus

The article by Rick Morton (“Exclusive: National cabinet counts intensive care beds”, August 21-27) highlights the lack of information that is being collected by the Australian government as the Covid-19

Delta strain rips into our communities. It is staggering to think that the national intensive care bed count isn’t already known and a plan already prepared to meet this emergency. The intensive care bed problem is now front and centre as New South Wales in particular has given up on eliminating the virus. However, other states have declared that, regardless of the vaccination count, opening up with high cases is not on their agenda. This disturbing lack of consensus again highlights the complete failure of the Morrison government to manage this emergency in a co-ordinated way. We have a so-called national cabinet that is about to fracture and present many different options depending on which state or territory you live in. It is a classic example of a federation system not serving the best interests of this country. It is exactly the same scenario with natural disasters when, for example, states and territories have different equipment and different communication systems. The pandemic is out of control and political infighting will not be the answer.

– Daryl Regan, Eden Hills, SA