In a refreshing display of candor, the Virgin Australia CEO has called upon the Australian government to re-open borders once the adult population has been offered vaccinations, even if it leads to death.
Virgin Australia CEO Says International Borders Should Open Even if People Die As A Result
Speaking personally, Australia has been an enigma to me. It is one of my favorite nations in the world and I greatly respect the way it has controlled the pandemic. Within Australia, life is largely back to normal, with restaurants and cafés open and people not wearing masks…and it has been this way for months. Australia has reported only 910 deaths throughout the pandemic (compared to over 586K in the USA).
I also respect the commitment to life that Australia has shown, even at great economic cost (in the form of lost international commerce). There is something to be said for the idea that there is no freedom without life itself. While I do not think “give me liberty or give me death” is a unique American mentality, the balance Australia struck has been impressive.
Now here comes the but. I think Jayne Hrdlicka, the CEO of Virgin Australia, makes a compelling point when she told a crowd earlier today that “some people may die” when borders are reopened.
“We can’t keep it out forever. It’s not in anybody’s interest to do that.”
She added:
“We’re all going to be sicker than we ever have in the past because we’re not exposed to the virus and challenges of the rest of the world. We need to get the borders open for our health and for the economy.”
The issue is not if people “may” die but how many will die. It is simply inevitable, even with advance testing protocols, quarantine, and contact tracing.
And that becomes one of the ethical dilemma of our time, doesn’t it? What are the unintended consequences of barring international travel? What is a life worth? Ultimately, what balance should we strike? It may take years for us to know the answer and only in retrospect.
And yet there is something refreshing about the candor of Hrdlicka’s statement that in some ways Australia is just prolonging the inevitable by warning borders will remain closed until mid to late 2022.
CONCLUSION
I’m not in a position to tell Australian state governments or the federal government how to act. But from my own vantage point, once everyone has had a chance to get the jab, it is indeed time to re-open. Those who choose not to get it will open themselves up to additional risk, but that is a risk of their own choosing. So-called “brake measure” are reasonable in case of a rapid surge in cases.
Of course the issue is not that simple, but indefinite travel bans take on a whole new cost when vaccinated populations are largely resistant to the pandemic. Like so many other viruses, we need to accept that it will always be with us to some degree. Hopefully, however, vaccines will allow us to control it like we control so many other viruses.
Was Jayne Hrdlicka speaking the truth or out-of-line in her comments?
(H/T: Paddle Your Own Kanoo // image: Virgin Australia)
I agree wholeheartedly. The Australian government’s zero COVID approach is not going to work when the rest of the world esp the EU and US are taking a reopen when vaccinated approach.
If only politicians operated like this – instead of trying to baby the entire world population and make decisions for them.
Everyone is best off when they make their own decisions for themselves. Not when their government overlords try to tell everyone what to do.
Who needs government guidance? Especially since we can expect all people to act rationally and show concern for the whole instead of the self. It’s not like we’re dealing with a contagious, airborne disease or anything.
Refreshing…to say the least. Cuomo…and many other politicians from both parties…are full of it when they piously and sanctimoniously state “even if we just save one life…” well if that were true cars would be tanks.
Its time. Protect yourself as best you can. Get vaccinated and live your life
Australia is rich. All they have to do is get everyone vaccinated in a hurry and they can reopen the country completely. Will a few people die from Covid? Yes. The question is whether a very few deaths justify closing down an entire continent. From almost every standpoint I’d say that complete vaccination and reopening is the sensible approach.
Great post. I agree. In many ways we should all have learned a great deal from the past year in studying different lockdown models, border closures, schools etc. Now we are learning that the vaccines (the decent ones) do work. With that the answers almost always reside in the middle. Practical cautions, vaccination requirements for travel, bridges between countries that are at a similar point, and plans to put the brakes on in areas where an outbreak occurs is a rational and responsible approach at this point. Extremes like Australia and Singapore in their response did save a lot of lives. Yet, it’s going to start creating secondary problems and unrest if it continues beyond the point where a high percentage of people are vaccinated. As foolish and horrid as the U.S. response was last year, Australia will begin to look equally as foolish in the coming months if they continue this conservative closure to the outside.
Just think of all the activities that could be banned in the name “saving just one life.” Let’s start off with flying, then driving, walking, taking a shower, sex, eating, drinking, exercising, biking, hiking, watching TV, sleeping, and on and on and on. The list is endless–you name any human activity and undoubtedly someone has died doing it at some point in time. But to have an honest discussion about the risk/reward benefit of anything to do with the virus is beyond the capability of our current society.
There is always a delineation between recklessness and calculated risk.
Pot calling the kettle black. Of course let others die as long as her career and company does not.
Dreadful. She was in charge of QFF when benefits were slashed via ‘enhancements’. Now she seems to want to go head on with Alan Joyce for being the CEO who doesn’t know when to just STFU.
There is no compelling reason to open the borders, other than the self-interest of companies like Virgin. There is no particular economic benefit, despite the BS being touted by the gloom and doom merchants ( from a position of profound ignorance…)
Australia needs to fix this total CF of a vaccine rollout; then complete the repatriation of those citizens/permanent residents wanting to come home. Then, and only then, reopen to outbound travelers, then contemplate small inbound numbers.
The opinion poll released this week shows 78% support for keeping borders closed until mid-2022 AT THE EARLIEST. The federal government can claim wide public support for its policy.
Personally, I believe it can be much sooner…end of 2021 is not unreasonable. But the debate is not helped by the likes of Hrdlicka