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The End of Certainty: Quarterly Essay 79: Scott Morrison and Pandemic Politics by Katharine Murphy
drillvoice's review
2.0
While this essay has value as a description of the timing and content of the Australian Government's response to Covid-19, it falls flat when it comes to offering useful insight or analysis.
'The End of Certainty' is Murphy's review of how Australia has responded to Covid-19, using this lens to analyse Scott Morrison as a political actor, and complemented by interviews with other relevant figures, not just politicians. As a plain synthesis of the steps taken by the Australian government, it succeeds: there is value in this work as a catalogue of what happened and when, in reconstructing the timeline. The work also serves to document the talking points used by the federal government in describing their own response, which Murphy happily regurgitates.
However, if the QE is meant to present a range of political, intellectual and cultural opinion, if Murphy, as she writes, has tried to offer "interpretation and meaning", then something has gone wrong here. I was very disappointed in the lack of analysis or critique offered in the 100 pages of this essay.
Far too often, Government spokespeople are quoted giving their own version of events, which Murphy seems hesitant to question or push resist. For example, Murphy observes that the Coalition engaged in stimulus spending despite having been critical of the ALP's stimulus in response to the GFC. Rather than enquire as to whether the Coalition's objections in 2009 represented bald-faced political opportunism with no regard for the public interest, Murphy uncritically allows the contention that the Liberials were merely concerned in 2020 with avoiding the "mistakes" of Labor's stimulus spending. Similarly, Murphy notes that JobKeeper had various gaps, including universities, explaining this, she writes "...the sector was likely excluded to try to contain the cost of the program". Although she also notes that some in the Coalition consider universities "factories of left-wing thought", she elects not to consider whether there could perhaps have been an ideological component to the Government's response.
It is perhaps when it comes to questions of ideology that Murphy's readiness to recapitulate Morrison's personal branding is most striking. "The end of certainty" attempts to give a depiction of Morrison; this is valuable. But Murphy fails to examine the image that has been deliberately crafted. She describes Morrison as a "project manager" lacking "ideological flame", "a pragmatist", someone "practical". Firstly, when evaluating Morrison's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, one might argue for a higher standard than a PM who listened to experts and focused on solving the problem at hand and not fighting ideological wars. Secondly, there are plenty of examples of Morrison's engaging in ideological battles even in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis. The criticism of Labor premiers comes to mind, not to mention the cheerleading for a "gas-led recovery". While Morrison may be interested in solving problems, the problems dominating his mind seem to be (a) re-election and (b) propping up uneconomic and polluting industries. But you wouldn't know this from reading Murphy's essay.
As a caveat to the above, I began reading this essay pre-disposed to dislike Morrison, and probably resistant to any positive portrayal. I do accept, however, the accuracy and value of Murphy's endorsement of various aspects of Morrison's Covid-19 response. We're certainly lucky not to have had a Boris Johnson or a Donald Trump at the helm. I'm not annoyed because Murphy was willing to praise Morrison. It's just the utter muteness on criticism that is striking.
In wrapping up her essay, Katherine Murphy writes "I have documented a crisis and a response. I have tried to record history, and dive beneath those facts and timelines in search of interpretation and meaning." This is a useful summary of what Murphy sees as her purpose with the essay, and she is half-right. Murphy has documented a crisis and response. When it comes to interpretation and meaning, however, I'm doubtful that she has even tried.
'The End of Certainty' is Murphy's review of how Australia has responded to Covid-19, using this lens to analyse Scott Morrison as a political actor, and complemented by interviews with other relevant figures, not just politicians. As a plain synthesis of the steps taken by the Australian government, it succeeds: there is value in this work as a catalogue of what happened and when, in reconstructing the timeline. The work also serves to document the talking points used by the federal government in describing their own response, which Murphy happily regurgitates.
However, if the QE is meant to present a range of political, intellectual and cultural opinion, if Murphy, as she writes, has tried to offer "interpretation and meaning", then something has gone wrong here. I was very disappointed in the lack of analysis or critique offered in the 100 pages of this essay.
Far too often, Government spokespeople are quoted giving their own version of events, which Murphy seems hesitant to question or push resist. For example, Murphy observes that the Coalition engaged in stimulus spending despite having been critical of the ALP's stimulus in response to the GFC. Rather than enquire as to whether the Coalition's objections in 2009 represented bald-faced political opportunism with no regard for the public interest, Murphy uncritically allows the contention that the Liberials were merely concerned in 2020 with avoiding the "mistakes" of Labor's stimulus spending. Similarly, Murphy notes that JobKeeper had various gaps, including universities, explaining this, she writes "...the sector was likely excluded to try to contain the cost of the program". Although she also notes that some in the Coalition consider universities "factories of left-wing thought", she elects not to consider whether there could perhaps have been an ideological component to the Government's response.
It is perhaps when it comes to questions of ideology that Murphy's readiness to recapitulate Morrison's personal branding is most striking. "The end of certainty" attempts to give a depiction of Morrison; this is valuable. But Murphy fails to examine the image that has been deliberately crafted. She describes Morrison as a "project manager" lacking "ideological flame", "a pragmatist", someone "practical". Firstly, when evaluating Morrison's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, one might argue for a higher standard than a PM who listened to experts and focused on solving the problem at hand and not fighting ideological wars. Secondly, there are plenty of examples of Morrison's engaging in ideological battles even in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis. The criticism of Labor premiers comes to mind, not to mention the cheerleading for a "gas-led recovery". While Morrison may be interested in solving problems, the problems dominating his mind seem to be (a) re-election and (b) propping up uneconomic and polluting industries. But you wouldn't know this from reading Murphy's essay.
As a caveat to the above, I began reading this essay pre-disposed to dislike Morrison, and probably resistant to any positive portrayal. I do accept, however, the accuracy and value of Murphy's endorsement of various aspects of Morrison's Covid-19 response. We're certainly lucky not to have had a Boris Johnson or a Donald Trump at the helm. I'm not annoyed because Murphy was willing to praise Morrison. It's just the utter muteness on criticism that is striking.
In wrapping up her essay, Katherine Murphy writes "I have documented a crisis and a response. I have tried to record history, and dive beneath those facts and timelines in search of interpretation and meaning." This is a useful summary of what Murphy sees as her purpose with the essay, and she is half-right. Murphy has documented a crisis and response. When it comes to interpretation and meaning, however, I'm doubtful that she has even tried.
latterature's review
2.0
An informative but ultimately unremarkable portrait of Prime Minister Scott Morrison through the lens of his government's COVID-19 response.
avrilhj's review
3.0
The date at the end of this essay is 19 August 2020. I have completed reading it on 19 May 2021. So, how does it stand up, nine months on?
The essay ends by talking about "a pandemic when there is no vaccine and no guarantee there will ever be one" (p. 95). Now the world has several vaccines, and the UK and USA, whose responses to covid19 are described in this essay as dystopian and chaotic, have done exceptionally well at vaccinating their people. Australia, on the other hand, after managing the pandemic itself well, is failing miserably on vaccinations. There is every possibility that Australia's international borders will remain closed until 2022. Murphy writes about trust in political parties being up 11% during the pandemic (p. 89). It would interesting to see what the figures are now. It would also be interesting to see whether Australians, who have rewarded all the incumbent state governments, have noticed that the areas that Commonwealth government was responsible for: aged care; quarantine; vaccination - are the areas that have failed.
Murphy writes of Morrison as "a bloke's bloke" and wonders "how he tests with women" (p. 70). 2021 has been the year in which Australian women have spoken as a gender and Morrison has completely failed to listen, despite the pink-washing of the Budget. Again, it will be interesting to see what this means at the ballot boxes if an election is held in 2021. Will Morrison have spoken narrowly enough to 'men who might otherwise vote ALP' to stay in power as women demand better?
Murphy is good on Morrison as a religious man who refuses to allow his faith to be discussed (pp. 66-69) and as a non-conviction politicians who "can be anything he thinks he needs to be" (p. 65). Morrison may be able to stay in power because with a few exceptions there is nothing he is not willing to do or to jettison to be electable. And that is worrying.
The essay ends by talking about "a pandemic when there is no vaccine and no guarantee there will ever be one" (p. 95). Now the world has several vaccines, and the UK and USA, whose responses to covid19 are described in this essay as dystopian and chaotic, have done exceptionally well at vaccinating their people. Australia, on the other hand, after managing the pandemic itself well, is failing miserably on vaccinations. There is every possibility that Australia's international borders will remain closed until 2022. Murphy writes about trust in political parties being up 11% during the pandemic (p. 89). It would interesting to see what the figures are now. It would also be interesting to see whether Australians, who have rewarded all the incumbent state governments, have noticed that the areas that Commonwealth government was responsible for: aged care; quarantine; vaccination - are the areas that have failed.
Murphy writes of Morrison as "a bloke's bloke" and wonders "how he tests with women" (p. 70). 2021 has been the year in which Australian women have spoken as a gender and Morrison has completely failed to listen, despite the pink-washing of the Budget. Again, it will be interesting to see what this means at the ballot boxes if an election is held in 2021. Will Morrison have spoken narrowly enough to 'men who might otherwise vote ALP' to stay in power as women demand better?
Murphy is good on Morrison as a religious man who refuses to allow his faith to be discussed (pp. 66-69) and as a non-conviction politicians who "can be anything he thinks he needs to be" (p. 65). Morrison may be able to stay in power because with a few exceptions there is nothing he is not willing to do or to jettison to be electable. And that is worrying.
bookpossum's review
4.0
An excellent analysis of the effects to date of COVID-19 on Australia. The response by politicians back in March 2020 and their acceptance of the advice of the medical experts, helped save the country from being overwhelmed by the first wave. The multiple mistakes and disasters which created the second wave in my city of Melbourne is still being lived through as I write, but we are getting there.
erinstewart's review against another edition
3.0
I was grateful for the timeline of Australia's pandemic response. I was so flustered at the time, I couldn't really remember exactly what happened and in what order. There were a few places this felt a bit rushed, for example not finding the name of the South Australian radio program Scott Morrison goes on sometimes, not really having a handle of the fact that there's phylogenetic data showing a strong likelihood of US community transmission that went under the radar before borders closed (hence the very different outcomes in the US and Australian situations despite similar border policies). As well, I still have so many questions about Scott Morrison and his pandemic response, especially his take on News Corp persistently trying to undermine bipartisanship and on his speaking out about BLM protests but not conspiracy theorist protests. Much is made of the PM's faith, which would be interesting to know about and probably does inform his politics but he seems to want off-limits. But actually there's still plenty I want to know about his politics, his actual public life, and it's frustrating how little he says on the record about that, and this essay doesn't really give you a whole lot extra (I'm thinking this is probably not Katharine Murphy's fault, to be fair).
fraserhansen's review
2.0
A somewhat interesting portrait of Morrison. However, you get the vibe that the author has spent too much time around these people in power, and is unable to adequately critique these players as she humanises them over and over again with little anecdotes that they told her, which appears to have altered her judgement. She approaches very clear points where critique can be made but continually falters to bring those into light until the end, but even there she is very soft.
It is writing like this that I despise most from mainstream media. Simply reporting without critique and analysis, whilst we veer ever closer to climate catastrophe as a direct result of the policies by this government in question, and the lives of working people get degraded further and further.
P.s. Hearing Morrison described and describe himself as someone who does not act ideologically is as the Sniffmaster Slavoj Žižek would say *is* pUre IdEoLogY
It is writing like this that I despise most from mainstream media. Simply reporting without critique and analysis, whilst we veer ever closer to climate catastrophe as a direct result of the policies by this government in question, and the lives of working people get degraded further and further.
P.s. Hearing Morrison described and describe himself as someone who does not act ideologically is as the Sniffmaster Slavoj Žižek would say *is* pUre IdEoLogY
everything_was_beautiful's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Traces the politics and rhetoric of Prime Minister Scott Morrison from the bushfires and into the first half of the year of the pandemic. A perceptive and insightful look at what happens behind the scenes. Maybe a bit too easy on that snake Morrison at times.
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