1,206 signatures so far

Dear ,

Thanks for signing our open letter calling on the heads of Australian governments to reopen the economy and take a different approach to COVID.

To date we have had 1,206 signatures, which is impressive. They are from people like you who care very deeply about human life, but also understand this is a complex question requiring a sophisticated response which takes account of the damage to all human lives, not only those who contract COVID.

The more signatures on the letter we have, the more effective it can be.

Would you be able to let your friends, family, colleagues, acquaintances, even neighbours and strangers know about this letter by sharing it on social media, or emailing it around?

The link to the letter is https://aip.asn.au/2020/06/open-up-our-country-sign-the-open-letter/.

We need to show politicians that there are Australians who will support opening-up the country, and who realise that COVID-19 will not go away, and the world will have to learn to live with it.

While the situation in Victoria suggests that as far as government actions are concerned, things are getting worse, I think there are signs this might actually be the last hurrah for the lockdown mindset.

For example, the ABC’s Dr Norman Swan, one of the chief cheerleaders for lockdowns, appears to have now come to the conclusion that we may have to live with COVID. Listen here (around 4:20 in the recording or you can find it in the transcript).

He’s echoing the Director General of WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus who says there may “never be” a silver bullet for COVID.

There are also technical solutions which could make the disease less frightening for many people making them more willing to engage.

For example, this test, developed at Yale University for Hough Pharma, and legal in Europe and the USA, can apparently detect COVID-19 with 98% accuracy in 10 minutes and can be self-administered. (Also see Andrew Bolt interview with CEO of Hough Parma Greg Hough here).

It’s easy to imagine it being used at workplaces to screen to ensure that employees are COVID free, or to detect them and treat them in the early stages, reassuring people that they have a level of control.

But it won’t be easy, especially for our state premiers, to change course. So the more pressure we can apply now, the sooner we can get the country back on its feet and all of us, and our fellow Australians, back earning a living and living meaningful lives with some hope for the future.

Once again, thanks for your support.

Regards,

GRAHAM YOUNG
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE FOR PROGRESS