Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, we have marvelled at how well the state and federal governments can work together when necessary, but also seen states continue to differentiate themselves. There has not been the usual division along party lines. As Michelle Grattan writes, it was New South Wales (Coalition government) and Victoria (Labor government) that led the way to lockdown in the first place; now we see Queensland and Western Australia keeping their borders shut, for now, to prevent the risk of the virus taking hold.

The schools debate made the state faultlines clear; now the issue of reopening borders is doing the same. The federal government, with an eye on the economy, has preferred a lighter hand where lockdowns are concerned. As the country cautiously opens up again, it will be “forward-leaning” in an effort to wake up the dormant economy.

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Top stories

Richard Wainwright & Dan Peeld/AAP

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