We are the champions … of the world

April 28, 2009 – 8:11 am, by Jonathan Green
   

Nicola Roxon just then on Sky talking swine flu. Asked about our anti viral preparedeness she says we have one of the highest per captita stockpiles of anti-viral drugs in the world.  Nice.  But where does this Australian thing come from … why is it that in any issue, on any measure, we have to reassure ourselves that we are a top league global player? Pathetic, and such an ingrained,  automatic response.

Comments (5) | Permalink

5 Comments

  1. 1
    Michael
    Posted April 28, 2009 at 12:15 pm | Permalink

    Interesting that we have these massive stockpiles. A work colleague is heading to the US then the UK with his family; he got 4 scripts for Tamiflu for obvious precautionary reasons. The chemist said unfortunately they couldn’t fill the script, as all stocks have been locked by the government.

  2. 2
    Frank Campbell
    Posted April 28, 2009 at 1:11 pm | Permalink

    An “ingrained, automatic response” indeed. Australia remains, incorrigibly, a provincial country. Always fretting about its rank. Prone to adopt ideas and technologies which have failed in the metropolis. Windpower comes to mind. European spivs, having outstayed their welcome at home, are now carpet-bagging here.

  3. 3
    Melissa Sweet
    Posted April 28, 2009 at 2:04 pm | Permalink

    Disappointing. I thought from the headline that this is where the Crikey ed is going to reveal himself a fan of Queen…

  4. 4
    feral sparrowhawk
    Posted April 28, 2009 at 9:49 pm | Permalink

    If we want to pat ourselves on the back how about the fact that if it wasn’t for us there would be no Tamiflu or Relenza. Relenza was entirely designed here. The first stages of Tamiflu were Australian as well, although the subsequent work was overseas. Now they’re the main line of defence against tens of millions of deaths – that’s something to be proud of.

  5. 5
    feral sparrowhawk
    Posted April 28, 2009 at 9:58 pm | Permalink

    PS I actually don’t think in this case Roxon’s comments are the usual cultural cringe. Rather I think this is what any government would do – they’re showing off that they took more precautions than most other governments, so aren’t they good. Of course most of these stocks were probably built up under Howard, but how many government’s would miss the chance to claim credit for what their predecessors did?

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