#019 Grace and Justice to Australia

21 December 2020

Dear Readers,

Grace and Justice to Australia

This is last issue of BlessingCALD for 2020. There will be a break for two weeks. The next issue will be on 11 January 2021.

Currently, Sydney is facing its biggest challenge since the beginning of the pandemic. Over 83 cases in the Northern Beaches in a few days have shut Sydney away from all other states. It remains unsure if Sydney will be in lockdown in Christmas but definitely everybody is on alert. Travelling plan of most people is in turmoil.  The best we can hope for is that the spread can be contained quickly and everybody in Sydney can be settled back into a Covid-normal state soon.

At this moment, lockdown is limited to the affected suburbs instead of the big metropolitan Sydney, mask wearing is still not mandatory though highly recommended. At home, a maximum of 10 guests is still allowed. Premier Gladys Berejiklian will make a decision on Wednesday. It was reported that voluntary taking up of mask was high in the affected regions. In fact, the experience in Melbourne has demonstrated that mask wearing was well accepted by Victorians as a means to protect the community. There is no reason for Premier Berejiklian to hesitate in enforcing it. It is a sign of grace in using a mask to protect others.

Other states are quick to shut down the border to protect their own people. This measure should be regarded as a responsible Covid-normal procedure until most Australians are vaccinated for protection.

In Melbourne, the final report for Hotel Quarantine Inquiry was released. It was definitely a disappointment as nobody was identified being responsible for making the decision of using private security guards. Accountability of the government should include punishment for those who failed in their responsibility to the people. In this final report, this is obviously absent. To over 800 Melburnians who had died in the second outbreak and their loved ones, they demand an answer.

Premier Daniel Andrews has taken up the responsibility as a leader and offered an apology. His courage to face the mistake should not be seen as an excuse to protect the irresponsible and incompetent officials. The Victorian government should do much more in order to be held accountable.

This Christmas, we wish that justice and grace be coming upon society.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Regards,

Raymond Chow

Publisher, BlessingCALD