A key distinction down here is that the states are entitled to close their borders to each other (something Australians had forgotten for the past hundred years). Consequently Victoria was locked out of the rest of the country by the other states, who had all successfully brought case numbers under control. We've had to get it to zero before the other states will even talk about reopening. That and we all want to be able to fly out to New Zealand and the Pacific Islands over the summer.
Yeah we had some of that. Like Vermont and New Hampshire turning away NY driver licenses and shit. Nothing you can do about interstate travel, though, you're right. I think a more important distinction is you aren't led by a populist who has formed a death cult around himself that confuses risky behavior with bravery and patriotism while destroying any central response and sowing discord. Morrison isn't gonna go "yeah so you guys are on fire? Too fucking bad no emergency aid for you since you won't vote for me." Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think you guys even have a structure that would permit that.
We don't have Trump and things would be a lot worse if we'd had Trump. We've had no shortage of Murdoch and the yellow press sowing discord and destroying social cohesion, though. Look up #nobeersfornewscorp on twitter and you'll see what I mean. The real leader during all of this has been Dan Andrews (the Premier, sort of like your Governor). The leadership throughout this has come from the states first and the Commonwealth Government a distant second. It says something about Scott Morrison's leadership that he has yet to come out and congratulate Victorians on what they've achieved.