Australia’s Pandemic Exceptionalism
Thursday 26 September 2024, 6pm - 7.15pm, ACST
Online & Allan Scott Auditorium, Hawke Building,
UniSA City West Campus, 55 North Terrace Adelaide
MAP
26 September 2004
In many ways, Australia handled the COVID-19 pandemic as well as any country in the world – but what did we get wrong?
In Australia’s Pandemic Exceptionalism, internationally acclaimed economists Steven Hamilton and Richard Holden assess Australia’s public health and economic responses to the pandemic. By analysing Australia’s many successes – and shocking failures – they offer crucial lessons for future crises.
Australia’s economic policy response to the pandemic was as effective as any other country’s – and dramatically better than most. Was this inevitable? Was it luck? Was it the product of great institutions? Or a few talented individuals?
Conversely, Australia’s public health response was far more mixed – and disastrous in parts. While we bounded out of the blocks at the start, grave failings on vaccines and testing meant we stumbled, escaping the pandemic many months later than other countries and plunging us into unnecessary lockdowns. Lives were lost and livelihoods were harmed as a result.
Presented by The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre
Imprints Booksellers will be selling copies of Australia's Pandemic Exceptionalism in the Auditorium foyer on the night of the event.
While the views presented by speakers within The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre public program are their own and are not necessarily those of either the University of South Australia, or The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre, they are presented in the interest of open debate and discussion in the community and reflect our themes of: Strengthening our Democracy - Valuing our Diversity - Building our Future. The Hawke Centre reserves the right to change their program at any time without notice.