The politics of "letting it rip": why Australia went from zero-COVID to COVID-central

How did Australia go from the envy of the world with its zero-COVID strategy to “letting it rip”? This chapter will delve into the ideology that influenced the Australian federal government’s decision to adopt a “let it rip” approach 18 months into the COVID-19 pandemic. I will first analyse the various strategies implemented by the Morrison government, identifying three interconnected pillars of thought that informed their policy decisions - neoliberalism, prosperity gospel, and social Darwinism. I argue that these ideologies share a common worldview that prioritises economic growth and individual freedom over collective well-being and social responsibility. I will then examine the Albanese government’s pandemic response and the changing attitudes of the Australian public towards living with the virus. Drawing on a Gramscian analysis, I provide insights into the factors that led to this shift in attitude and the role played by dominant ideologies in shaping public discourse and policy responses.