THREAD: This is nonsense. Nowhere in this article is Professor Murphy quoted supporting the herd immunity approach. This tweet is highly misleading to the many Twitter users who don't have a subscription to the AFR. https://twitter.com/billbowtell/status/1249830751534632962

There is only one line in the story attributed to Prof Murphy, saying there are few recorded infections in children, from an Insiders interview where he talked about the many unknowns surrounding their infection. He was not speaking in support of a broad herd immunity strategy.

Deputy CMO Paul Kelly does not voice support for herd immunity, either. I've been to, or listened to, every press conference they have held since Australia declared the coronavirus had pandemic potential in January & they have never advocated for the herd immunity approach.

In the AFR article, Professor Kelly says that because there is no herd immunity to the coronavirus, everyone is susceptible. This is stating a fact. It is not a declaration of support for allowing the virus to spread with the aim of achieving herd immunity.

Here is Prof Kelly's full quote from the March 15 press conference: "That important issue of herd immunity that we talk about a lot in vaccination is exactly the challenge that we have at the moment. There is no herd immunity. Everyone is susceptible to this virus in Australia...

"... And so that's why these unusual and proportionate measures that we are taking now to prevent the worst case scenario, which is that very high peak, is really important." Prof Kelly was promoting THE OPPOSITE of the herd immunity approach.

If evidence emerged that the government had pursued a herd immunity strategy, that would be huge. But there isn't any. Rather, it appears they have strategically & gradually introduced restrictions aimed at flattening the curve while incrementally gaining public support.