Premier "Satisfaction" and "Handling Coronavirus Performance" - Newpoll, page-42

Methinks:
1. The Gompertz curve provides a lower boundary view of reality - and therefore assumes minimal traffic between populations? Which is not to say it should not be used as part of the predictive story.
2. The time taken to reach the convergence stage, and therefore the affected population was too high to not intervene drastically - including the concern about ability for hospital systems to cope.

As for the politics and messaging, yes - they have used the 'worst case' scenario as the stick to modify peoples behaviours and in order to 'sell' the drastic economic measures taken.

I do appreciate the points you have made. (I have not seen any models published by governments - have you - would like to look at these).