The Coronavirus: Old vs Young

Abstract

This paper makes a sceptical case against the way Australia’s government (and most other governments) invoked lockdowns to handle the coronavirus outbreak. This governmental response amounted to one of the biggest inroads into civil liberties in this country ever. It was based on modelling that has not stood the test of time. It significantly hurt those in the small business private sector but not those in public service or the politicians themselves. And most particularly, it was a response that differentially affected those who are young considerably more than those who are old. The author considers the morality of that and argues that this has been one of the worst public policy misfires of the last century.