I THINK it is time we had a conversation.
The pandemic has exposed a driving force in society and governments, and it is about risk. It is a topic we are all familiar with.
Risk mitigation plans are on file in every business, not-for-profit, council, bank and school. They table and rate the likelihood and severity, and consequences of certain risks should an incident eventuate.
Over time, it seems we have come to the point of zero tolerance for any risk. And the question is: what risks are we trying to mitigate? Is it the number of deaths, health system overload, or political fallout?
Government aversion to risk and obsession with risk mitigation through tight controls has been on full display throughout the pandemic. However, there is a serious impact on individual rights and choice and consequently on an individual’s willingness to shoulder personal responsibility.
Regional Victoria has endured yet another period of lockdown, but this time, the risk was greater for our community, and the fear of an uncontrolled outbreak was real.
The government response was an immediate risk management strategy through lockdown restrictions. The response by individuals in the community was to take responsibility by isolating, being tested, checking in and socially distancing.
The more measures governments take to control risk on behalf of individuals, the less responsibility those individuals are arguably willing to carry.
The question is whether the actions taken by each individual to keep this outbreak at bay were actually more effective than the lockdowns themselves.
And, if so, what effect will continual restrictions have on our ability to contain outbreaks, when individuals are unwilling to comply and carry personal responsibility?
Government has the responsibility to balance individual rights with the greater good and protection of society. But this is not unconnected to the risk of political fallout.
The more government continues to control their people, the less responsibility individuals can and do have. It is an inverse principle that I think needs resetting, even while we are living through a pandemic.
While mitigating risk is a responsibility for government and individuals, the risks need to be clearly considered and honestly weighed up. It is a serious and complex issue when our nation’s health and economy are at stake.
