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The politics of "letting it rip": why Australia went from zero-COVID to COVID-central

In: Research Handbook on Public Management and COVID-19

Author

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  • Blair Williams

Abstract

How did Australia go from the envy of the world with its zero-COVID strategy to “letting it rip”? This chapter will delve into the ideology that influenced the Australian federal government’s decision to adopt a “let it rip” approach 18 months into the COVID-19 pandemic. I will first analyse the various strategies implemented by the Morrison government, identifying three interconnected pillars of thought that informed their policy decisions - neoliberalism, prosperity gospel, and social Darwinism. I argue that these ideologies share a common worldview that prioritises economic growth and individual freedom over collective well-being and social responsibility. I will then examine the Albanese government’s pandemic response and the changing attitudes of the Australian public towards living with the virus. Drawing on a Gramscian analysis, I provide insights into the factors that led to this shift in attitude and the role played by dominant ideologies in shaping public discourse and policy responses.

Suggested Citation

  • Blair Williams, 2024. "The politics of "letting it rip": why Australia went from zero-COVID to COVID-central," Chapters, in: Helen Dickinson & Sophie Yates & Janine O’Flynn & Catherine Smith (ed.), Research Handbook on Public Management and COVID-19, chapter 6, pages 72-84, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    • Handle: RePEc:elg:eechap:21210_6
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    File URL: https://www.elgaronline.com/doi/10.4337/9781802205954.00013
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