The Joe Walker Podcast Richard Holden & Steven Hamilton — How Australia Gets It Done [Aus. Policy Series - LIVE]
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Mar 4, 2025 Richard Holden, a UNSW economics professor, and Steven Hamilton, an assistant professor at GWU, delve into Australia’s impressive state capacity. They discuss the effective economic interventions during COVID-19, examining the successes and failures of vaccine procurement. The conversation shifts to the complexities of federalism and housing challenges, as well as the need for reforms in unemployment insurance. Holden and Hamilton also highlight the role of local governance in crisis response, advocating for improved strategies to enhance public trust and accountability.
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Mixed Bag COVID Response
- Australia's COVID response was a mixed bag: excellent economic stimulus (JobKeeper) but poor vaccine procurement.
- This strategy prioritized local manufacturing with UQ and AstraZeneca vaccines, which proved problematic.
Why Vaccines Failed
- It's unclear why the vaccine strategy failed; potentially due to the health department's structure.
- Treasury officials likely wouldn't have made the same mistakes, but faced pushback during strategy discussions.
A Category Error
- A category error occurred: Health advice was treated like medical advice.
- Public health decisions should consider economic principles, not just medical opinions.