I do hope the Australian government is getting some sound economic advice as well as medical advice. Of course the medicos want to shut everything down for the long-term but the reality is we'll all be in a terrible financial state if they do. Many people view international travel as a luxury, enjoyed by fat cats totally out of touch with the masses. Of course the truth is very different. My wife and I both have family overseas and we feel the need to visit them as often as we can. We are not dancing shoulder to shoulder in a sweaty Ibiza nightclub, rather we are probably more isolated in rural Sweden that we are here in Sydney.

Any measures intending to "wait out" the development of a vaccine are unwise. So far there has been no successful vaccine created for a novel coronavirus. There is no guarantee that one will be created this time. Relying on that is pure folly.

We shouldn't be aiming to eliminate all risk. It's just not feasible. We should be aiming to minimise / manage all risk consistent with economic and compassionate grounds.

Here's some helpful suggestions for the relevant ministers.

1. Remove the ban on travel and the DFAT "do not travel advice". This will instantly reinstate the travel insurance possessed by many Australians who find themselves currently overseas, some of them "stranded". This is a sensible and compassionate move that should be accompanied by a strong "this doesn't mean you should travel carte blanche" and we will not come to get you if you get stuck messages. Perhaps insist on travel insurance for outbound tourists.
2. Encourage some domestic flights under conditions. I'm no doctor but maybe sell A, C, D and F seats every second row. Underwrite the losses for these flights rather than provide handouts. Some movement is essential - witness those now being released from quarantine in Sydney and unable to get back to their home states.
3. Retain the inbound quarantine but reduce the cost by allowing it for citizens/residents in private homes subject to random police checks and technology such as an app that pings them from time to time and the response provides GPS coordinates and maybe a photo to prove they are really there.
4. Early inbound tourism is likely to be high worth individuals. So facilitate a modest inbound tourism industry by allowing hotels to supervise the quarantine period. For example Hilton Sydney might offer the first week free for stays of over 2 weeks. The Whitsunday Islands spring to mind. On that topic, the quarantine period could be more-or-less safely reduced to 7 days. Figures show that the incubation period for this virus is an average of 3 to 5 days. This was proven by Australia's experience where the lockdown announced on a Sunday showed the first downturn in numbers on the following Thursday - 4 days. So 7 days will not mean zero risk, but it should mean a manageable risk.
5. Require inbound tourists to prove travel insurance so as not to unduly stress the health system here and eliminate medical tourism.
6. Other inbound measures could restrict tourism to private or small group tours only.
7. Open restaurants subject to suitable controls such as remove every second table, 2 chairs per table only. I'm sure health officials could come up with other practical measure.

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