Assessing the centrality of border policies for the COVID responses in Australia

The following article was commissioned by Medico International, a German help relief and human rights organisation committed to achieve the human right to health globally. Known for its partisan political campaigns and critical public and educational work, Medico has positioned itself at the forefront of public debate about government responses to COVID-19 in Europe. Their interest in Australia’s pandemic response arose in the context of debates that accompanied the publication of a Zero COVID call signed by many prominent intellectuals and activists. The call advocated that European countries, especially Germany, should aim to eliminate the virus by instituting harder lockdowns, including the closure of schools and workplaces. Apparently, participants in the social media debate that followed publication of this call – frequently mentioned Australia and New Zealand as examples of countries that had taken determined action to end the spread of the virus. Medico’s request for an article that discusses the centrality of border closures to Australia and New Zealand COVID strategies was part of an effort to enrich this Zero COVID debate and focus on the complexity of Corona-politics