How long can Australia's leaders hold out on border closures?

Don't take my word for it. I am merely reporting information - that's what reporters do.

A reliable poll comparing the views of citizens in Australia, the UK, US and Italy concludes: "Only in Australia do a majority of both government and opposition party supporters think that the government's leader is handling the coronavirus well."

The pollsters from Ipsos MORI (with the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House and the University of Canberra) asked people to assess leaders on a range of criteria: "Cares about people like me"; "Does his best to serve his country"; "Handling the situation well"; "Listens to experts".

Scott Morrison comes out well ahead of Boris Johnson, Donald Trump and the Italian leader, Giuseppe Conte.

One of the refreshing findings was that leaders who seem to trust and listen to experts are rewarded with approval by citizens.

"Competence is politically sexy again," as Ipsos MORI's chief executive, Ben Page, put it.

"In this latest crisis those politicians who have been consistent, calm and clear have performed best."

So that's OK, then. Everything's fine in Australia.

Not quite. Firstly, things change - ask Jacinda Ardern or Daniel Andrews. Pride comes before a return of COVID-19.

Secondly, there is a downside to playing it too safe.

One of the reasons President Trump and Prime Minister Johnson are poorly compared to Scott Morrison is that they want the economy revved up a tad - up from first gear to second.

It's true that there are other factors at play - Mr Trump's seeming denial that the coronavirus is a serious problem and his undermining of experts, Mr Johnson's aide taking a trip out in public while his government urged others not to.

But Australia has adopted much more of a safety-first attitude.

Who can doubt that health should come before money? Well, the people losing their jobs and the businesses becoming former businesses, that's who.

Dealing with this crisis is a balance of risk. We can pretty well close the coronavirus down, but that involves closing a lot of economic activity down, too.

Testing people before flying, for example, may not be 100 per cent accurate - but if it gives 70 per cent accuracy, how should that be weighed against the closure of a global industry, not to mention the pain of families split apart?

Partners who can't travel to see each other, children who won't be there when their parents pass away.

In September, government measures to support employers and employees are due to be scaled back. Unemployment is forecast to rise to 10 per cent of the workforce.

The Morrison government's policy is to lock down to slow the spread, plus borrow and spend to stop the crash. The poll shows that we approve - but will we when the economic pain really starts?

The coronavirus crisis is also revealing the creaks and cracks in a federal system.

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If every state and territory acts in its own interest, there may be a damage to the whole. Every state slamming the barrier shut at the least sign of the virus constrains trade and the resultant diminished trade harms the economy - and our bank balances.

The politicians in charge of the states and territories look good - there's little political flack - but there is a cost, and that cost should be recognised.

I get phoned daily by a removalist from Canberra whose business is on hold - in other words, his income and livelihood are on hold, and that can't last.

He can't understand why he isn't allowed to work in areas of Victoria which are COVID-free.

The Canberra Airport managing director's views on border closures are barely printable. The alacrity with which states block incoming flights means his enterprise may eventually be mothballed, with the shutters put up on the terminal.

The federal government has recognised that the old rules of never running up a budget deficit no longer hold.

There has been a barely noticed revolution in political thinking. Remember the "deficit scolds" who ruled the world - until they didn't, a few months ago?

Has there ever been such a swift turnabout in conventional wisdom?

Mr Morrison's party (like Mr Trump's and Mr Johnson's) was the party of prudence, tight budgets and "not spending beyond your income".

To his credit, he has shown pragmatism and jettisoned the dogma.

But governments also needs to recognise that locking every border shut is popular now, but it has a slow-burn of a cost. It seems painless at the time, but builds up trouble.

Maybe our leaders need to be less popular.