Bonus content from episode 11 of The IPA With You. Gideon Rozner's full interview with Dr. Tom Cade, one of over 500 doctors who recently wrote an open letter to Daniel Andrews, warning him about the health consequences of a prolonged lockdown.

They tell us to ‘listen to the science’, but who are they listening to?

As community opinion - including large swathes of the medical profession - turns against Australia’s response to the coronavirus, we look at ‘expert’ predictions made earlier this year, and how they have panned out.

Who is actually making these decisions? Are these lockdowns and border closures really based on ‘the best medical advice’? Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve learnt that major decisions like hotel quarantine and curfews have not been made by Brett Sutton, but health department bureaucrats.

We also speak to Dr Tom Cade, a Victorian obstetrician who was one of over 500 doctors who recently wrote an open letter to Daniel Andrews, warning him about the health consequences of a prolonged lockdown.

WARNING: This episode contains graphic and disturbing footage.

‘Police overreach’ doesn’t adequately describe what is happening in Victoria anymore. What we saw over the weekend is police brutality. We look at police raids at the Queen Victoria Market, and the shocking episode in which someone seeking urgent mental health care was run over and stomped by Victoria Police

.But police aren’t just suppressing our basic freedoms - they’re reaching for our wallets as well. Around $280,000 in fines were issued at the Queen Victoria Market on Sunday alone, with total  revenue raised by police stretching into the millions.

It’s a windfall that the Premier sorely needs, as the Victorian economy enters freefall. We take a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly of Dan’s ‘business support package’ over the weekend.

We are also joined by Assistant Editor of the West Australian, Jenna Clarke, who shares her thoughts as we answer some of  your emails and messages.

Links:

Nine News, Twitter

https://twitter.com/9NewsAUS/status/1304899087586791425?s=20

@thespeaker2018, Twitter

https://twitter.com/TheSpeaker2018/status/1305017869130821632?s=20

Erin Pearson, Twitter

https://twitter.com/epearson_3/status/1304964282266710016?s=20

Evan Mulholland, Twitter

https://twitter.com/evmulholland/status/1305355887368835078?s=20

Ashleigh McMillan, Simone Fox Koob and Erin Pearson, ‘Police arrest 74 and fine 176 after Vic Market protest’, The Age

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/police-arrest-74-and-fine-176-after-vic-market-protest-20200912-p55v1z.html?fbclid=IwAR0829ckZKTGZcMcLO1lbCMAO_NPw1SDA7zWR0rv4bjUzoC8zjkKXunXTzs

Luke Henriques-Gomes, ‘Victoria police issue almost 20,000 fines for Covid-19 breaches during pandemic’, The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/aug/26/victoria-police-issue-almost-20000-fines-for-covid-19-breaches-during-pandemic

Kathryn Bermingham, ‘Victorian Government announces unprecedented $3 billion support forbusinesses’, news.com.au

https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/victorian-government-announces-unprecedented-3-billion-support-for-businesses/news-story/d538477a6f590baf3ec67ad1a921aea9

Net debt to GSP, Victorian Parliamentary Budget Office

https://www.pbo.vic.gov.au/files/HYBU2019_netdebt1.png

Noel Towell, Michael Fowler and Sumeyya Ilanbey, ‘State debt set to hit $60 billion as virus crisis deepens’, The Age

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/state-debt-set-to-hit-60-billion-as-virus-crisis-deepens-20200804-p55ij4.html

Bonus content from episode 9 of The IPA With You. Gideon Rozner's full interview with Jims Mowing franchisee Shane Cocks, discussing the Victorian lockdown.

They may be ‘standing with Dan’, but will Dan be standing for much longer?

This week Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton confirmed that Melbourne’s curfew was not supported by medical advice, and Police Commissioner Shane Patton has said that he wasn’t even consulted about it. So why is it there? Whose idea was it? And what was it meant to achieve?

Victorians have gone well past breaking point now - the anger in the community is white hot. Daniel Andrews plays his politics hard, but even he can’t defy political gravity forever.

We also speak to Shane Cocks, a Jim’s Mowing franchisee whose business has been destroyed by this lockdown.

Links:

Luke Cooper ‘Tensions between Scott Morrison, MPs and Daniel Andrews near boiling point over Victoria's lockdown exit plan’, Nine News

https://www.9news.com.au/national/coronavirus-victoria-melbourne-lockdown-restrictions-daniel-andrews-scott-morrison-greg-hunt-tensions-covid19/5a806d6d-b325-4a3a-af47-b02188dd2d2a

Phillip Coorey, ‘Federal Labor fears heat over Victoria’s lockdown’, Australian Financial Review

https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/labor-s-anxiety-levels-rise-over-lockdown-20200909-p55tr4

Patrick Durkin, ‘Melbourne mayor urges Andrews to abandon elimination’, Australian Financial Review

https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/melbourne-mayor-urges-andrews-to-abandon-elimination-20200908-p55thb

Fiona Buffini and Hannah Wootton, ‘Business lashes Victoria’s extended lockdown’, Australian Financial Review

https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/victoria-s-lockdown-likely-to-be-extended-20200906-p55srw

James Campbell, ‘Boss of company set to make vaccine slams Daniel Andrews’ ‘map for misery”’, Herald Sun

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/coronavirus/boss-of-company-set-to-make-vaccine-slams-daniel-andrews-map-for-misery/news-story/b926887226cb32091b81e0fc56e9c42b

James Campbell, ‘Future of Dan Andrews on everyone’s lips’, Herald Sun

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/coronavirus/james-campbell-future-of-dan-andrews-on-everyones-lips/news-story/557258e1b0dc84f147b1529fb7a26c19

Frank Chung, ‘Brett Sutton says he did not recommend Melbourne curfew’, news.com.au

https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/coronavirus-victoria-brett-sutton-says-he-did-not-recommend-curfew/news-story/43e246ebaf7e5a63286084209d0f0291

Michael Fowler, Simone Fox Koob and Paul Sakkal, ’Police did not request Victorian curfew’, The Age

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/i-was-never-consulted-police-did-not-request-victorian-curfew-20200910-p55u7j.html

Bonus content from episode 8 of The IPA With You. Gideon Rozner's full interview with Luca Lorusso, the owner-operator of Cafe Latte in Hawksburn, Victoria.

Daniel Andrews promised a ‘roadmap to reopening’, but his ‘supercomputer’ delivered a dead end. When will restrictions actually be lifted, if at all? And what does it mean for you?

And when this is all over, what kind of city will we inherit? Thousands of businesses have closed their doors permanently since March, and this lockdown extension may finish the rest off. Our bars, cafes and restaurants have been hit particularly hard - Governments across Australia have used them as a punching bag since day one.

We talk to Luca Lorusso, a veteran of Melbourne’s hospo scene, who may not reopen after almost 30 years running a successful café and restaurant. Luca tells us about what the lockdown has done to his and many other businesses, and the way in which turning a profit in the food and beverage trade was hard even before the pandemic - largely because of government interference.

There has never been a more important time to talk about small business in Australia. If we don’t do something to take the pressure off, there may be none left.

Links:

Victorian government, ‘Roadmap to reopening’

https://www.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-09/Victoria-roadmap-for-reopening-how-we-live-Melbourne-Metro.pdf

Cian Hussey, ‘260,000 jobs destroyed by Daniel Andrews’ roadmap’, Institute of Public Affairs

https://ipa.org.au/publications-ipa/media-releases/260000-additional-jobs-destroyed-by-daniel-andrews-roadmap

Jon Faine, ‘Don’t listen to the naysayers, Dan’, The Age

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/don-t-listen-to-the-naysayers-dan-20200907-p55t3g.html

Ian Royall and Nathan Mawby, ‘“Road map to nowhere”: Victorian businesses slam Daniel Andrews’ lengthy plan to ease restrictions’, The Herald Sun

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/don-t-listen-to-the-naysayers-dan-20200907-p55t3g.html

Hannah Wootton and Patrick Durkin, ‘“I’ve got no hope”: Road map a death knell for restaurants’, Australian Financial Review

https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/i-ve-got-no-hope-roadmap-a-death-knell-for-restaurants-20200906-p55st0

Hannah Wootton, ‘“The CBD is dead” : Prolonged lockdown will kill Melbourne's heartbeat’, Australian Financial Review

https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/the-cbd-is-dead-prolonged-lockdown-will-kill-melbourne-s-heartbeat-20200907-p55t4b

Alanah Frost and Hannah Moore, ‘Victoria’s COVID-19 target not achievable, experts say’, The Herald Sun

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/coronavirus/victorias-covid19-target-not-achievable-experts-say/news-story/1c7bbc51fcb6a2f8776a2a3dbe7b1cf1

A Facebook video of a pregnant woman being handcuffed in front of her children has gone viral both in Australia and overseas. Zoe has since been released on bail and is looking at a sentence of up to 15 years. How did we get to the point that somebody can be treated like this over a Facebook post?

We chat to Sophie Elsworth for her reaction to Zoe’s ordeal, what she makes of Daniel Andrews’ mooted ‘roadmap to reopening’ to be revealed on Sunday, and whether there will be any bars and restaurants left in Melbourne when - or if - this lockdown ever ends.

And we hear from a proud IPA member who reached out to thank us for backing Zoe.

Links:

Zoe Lee, Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/lilzoelee/videos/10158502844469137/

Natalie Brown and Natalie Wolfe, ‘Coronavirus: Pregnant Victorian woman filmed arrest’, news.com.au

https://www.news.com.au/world/coronavirus/australia/coronavirus-pregnant-victorian-woman-filmed-arrest/news-story/cdd5dd3ed140416489c1925e4e6aef8d

Morgan Begg, ‘Victoria Police Potentially Acted Unlawfully In Allowing Black Lives Matter Protest: Legal Advice’, Institute of Public Affairs

https://ipa.org.au/publications-ipa/victoria-police-potentially-acted-unlawfully-in-allowing-black-lives-matter-protest-legal-advice

Violent scenes in outer Melbourne over the weekend show that Victoria Police are getting serious about anti-lockdown protests. Is this a necessary measure to restrict mass gatherings, or an unacceptable limit on our civil and political rights? And why didn’t we see the same police response months ago during the so-called Black Lives Matter rallies? Are the police picking and choosing which form of speech is acceptable and which isn’t? We hear from libertarian activist and political commentator Topher Field about the various protest movements floating around online. Are they really the ‘tinfoil hat brigade’ that the police claim? Plus we hear from one of the many Victorian mums frustrated with lockdown measures, and talk about what effect they’re having on our children. Links: Cassie Zevros, 7 News, Twitter https://twitter.com/cassiezervos/stat...

Suzan Delibasic, ‘Dandenong’s drug and crime crisis back in the spotlight as businesses close’, Greater Dandenong Leader, 10 March 2020 https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/s...

Jack Paynter, ‘Dandenong protest: Police vow to arrest and fine anti-lockdown marchers‘, The Australian https://www.theaustralian.com.au/brea...

Brianna Travers, Herald Sun, Twitter https://twitter.com/briannatravers/st...

@awakeinaus_, Twitter https://twitter.com/awakeinaus_/statu...

Joey Riordan, ‘Police threaten to jail Sam Newman over “illegal” protest plan’, 7 Sport https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/police...

Brianna Travers, ‘Black Lives Matter protest will take place outside Parliament in Victoria‘, Herald Sun, 3 June 2020 https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/vic...

Rachel Baxendale, ‘Black Lives Matter protest linked to tower cluster’, The Australian, 15 July 2020 https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news...

Reports this week suggest that a coronavirus vaccine may be ready for approval by the end of the year. But will it work? And what will happen if it doesn’t?

We hear from doctor and health policy commentator Dr Joe Kosterich, who gives his insight into a possible COVID-19 vaccine means, and what we should make of the optimistic headlines.

Then in another example of police overreach, we hear from a Victorian who was visited by the police after a neighbour complained about him and his housemate listening to music after 8pm.

Links: Dr Joe Kosterich, Dr Joe Today https://www.drjoetoday.com

International Society for Infectious Diseases, ‘Undiagnosed pneumonia - China (Hubei)’, 30 December 2019 https://promedmail.org/promed-post/?i...

Coronavirus vaccine from Oxford and AstraZeneca trial could go to regulators by end of 2020’, ABC/Reuters https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-2...

Stephanie Dalzell, ‘Australia locks in coronavirus vaccine deal to produce Oxford University-AstraZeneca candidate if approved‘, ABC https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-1...

Aaron Patrick, ‘Why a coronavirus vaccine may never be found‘, 3 April 2020, Australian Financial Review https://www.afr.com/policy/health-and...

John Kehoe, ‘McNamee “stunned” by Andrews’ power grab’, Australian Financial Review https://www.afr.com/policy/health-and..