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It didn't take long for Scott Morrison to backtrack on his YouTube video pushing the case for schools to return to normal.
The states and territories weren't pleased after the Prime Minister made a direct appeal to teachers last week, in a video message that warned: "The education of our children hangs in the balance."
State Governments feel it's a much easier call for Canberra to make than for premiers and chief ministers to implement.
They are the ones who will cop the blame if teachers and students start falling sick.
So, just a day after his video address, Mr Morrison effectively told parents to ignore it.
"Parents should follow the instructions that are being provided by state premiers and state education ministers," he said.
"If you are going to school in Victoria, there is only one person you need to listen to and that is the premier of Victoria."
Others in his Government, though, seem to think parents should be listening to them.
While it would be unreasonable to expect Education Minister Dan Tehan not to weigh in, he wasn't the only federal politician to voice an opinion.
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton on Friday joined NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian in criticising teachers unions.
During a time of an unusual outbreak of bipartisanship at National Cabinet meetings, interventions like Dutton's will not be appreciated by most states.
Amid calls for a Team Australia moment, Dutton and Berejiklian picking a fight with the unions — whose members will bear the risk of schools reopening — was a curious strategy.
Teachers are anxious about their health and, like health workers, some are considering living away from home to lower the risk of infecting their families.
It was telling when, at Friday's press conference, Mr Morrison declined the invitation to have a go at teachers unions.
He instead passed the question on to Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy.
He was also diplomatic when asked about Dutton and his attack on the Queensland State Government and teachers union.
"I'd simply say that Peter, of course, is a minister in my Government but he's also a Queenslander," Mr Morrison said.
"You do get to have the right to have a view as a local."
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Debate rages in newspaper pages
Then there's Western Australia, where the union representing public school teachers is buying newspaper ads to ask parents to keep their kids at home, while the Government encourages them to return to school.
Some states will be further upset by Mr Morrison's decision to submit an opinion piece to weekend newspapers, including The Weekend Australian and the Australian Financial Review, arguing the case for schools to reopen.
When this is all taken together, you can forgive parents across Australia for continuing to feel confused.
Another message today will leave some scratching their heads.
The Prime Minister said social distancing restrictions — such as keeping people 1.5 metres apart and limiting the number of people in a building — were "not appropriate and not required" at schools.
Again this is on the advice of the expert panel advising the Government — but for some, it's another contradiction.
Australians are being told the social distancing measures are so necessary they're worth crippling the economy for, but they don't apply to schools.
The Government says this is sensible, data-based advice because infections in schools have been low and children don't suffer the deadly consequences adults do.
But parents are clearly struggling with accepting this. Before the premiers ordered parents to keep their kids at home, absenteeism was as high as 40 per cent.
Your questions on coronavirus answered:
Difficult to plan for the long road ahead
The decision to restart ordinary schooling is an incredibly tough one.
Criticisms benefitted by hindsight, or made from the sidelines by non-players (like journalists), are easy.
Credit is due to all sides of politics dealing with this high-stakes decision.
But public messages, particularly about safety, are most effective when they are clear and simple.
On many fronts, state and national leaders — via the National Cabinet — have been successful at delivering these.
Wash your hands. Stay at home. Keep your distance.
The issue of schools stands out as one where the messaging hasn't been as clear or consistent.
What the experts are saying about coronavirus:
While governments have said they see the coronavirus crisis as a six-month challenge, the truth is, decision-makers really don't know how long they are going to be grappling with it.
The Prime Minister acknowledged today that as restrictions are lifted, there will be fresh outbreaks.
As things drag on, public restlessness will grow — and strong leadership will be more important than ever.
And if frustrated parents continue to feel like they're getting mixed messages about schools, our leaders could be taught a difficult lesson.
One that may be learned at the ballot box rather than in the classroom.
What you need to know about coronavirus:
Topics: schools, education, primary-schools, independent-schools, private-schools, public-schools, religious-schools, secondary-schools, federal---state-issues, states-and-territories, government-and-politics, federal-government, epidemics-and-pandemics, covid-19, diseases-and-disorders, health, australia
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