COVID-19: The economy, the policy response and the blame game With the infectious Delta strain spreading quickly, the government’s initial cautious stance to ensure that the “right” vaccine was available combined with mixed messages on the side effects is now a lethal combination, writes economist Annette Beacher. Annette BeacherEconomist & ausbiz Anchor July 24, 2021 - 10:05AM Not so long ago, Australia was world-renowned for managing the pandemic, with minimal per capita hospitalisations and deaths. Crucially, households and businesses were free to spend, invest and employ outside of a handful of short, sharp lockdowns. The snapbacks were just as aggressive as the lockdowns.