‘Lockdowns are not the answer’ | ticker VIEWS

Australian states are going in and out of lockdowns, but politicians and economists are warning it’s not the answer anymore

Sydney is in a covid lockdown. Now, Melbourne will enter its fifth lockdown. Melbourne businesses and people will enter a five-day snap lockdown. However, economist Gigi Foster says lockdowns are causing unforgivable harm to the human race.

“Let us be clear, these are not public health policies. These are policies of public destruction.”

Economist UNSW, Gigi Foster

Mental health impacts of lockdowns

There is no doubt the continued lockdowns are detrimental to mental health and other health issues. Victorian Liberal MP for Sandringham, Brad Rowswell, says the lockdown should be a last resort, not a first.

“Elder abuse has gone up by 300%. We must not forget the other impacts that lockdowns have on our community or our people.”

 “There’s been 100% increase in the girls at a high school presenting in emergency departments with presenting with self harm.”

“Mental health is out of control. Elder abuse is out of control. Lockdowns must only be a last resort.”

Brad Rowswell, Victorian Liberal MP

A different approach

Foster is urging the government to consider a more targeted approach to isolating the covid areas and vulnerable people.

“We should be applying more of a targeted protection approach. There are other strategies that could be played.”

“By pressing the same button over and over but hoping for a different result, which is what the government has been doing with these repeated lockdowns.”

“It’s the equivalent of insanity, not to mention being incredibly destructive of our lives and livelihoods.”

Economist UNSW, Gigi Foster