Angry about proposed travel ban exemption for footballers

[lovetravellingoz]

Whilst it a relief they will be isolated for 14 days, being able to hold a press conference hardly seems to be the hotel quarantine others have to do,

Not it is not the same, but also in many ways the quarantine is not just 14 days, but is permanent quarantine as those that enter the AFL bubble have to stay in the bubble. No mixing with others, and no free access to restaurants etc.

Also as I understand all that seek to enter the bubble are tested prior and so those that enter the bubble are Covi19 free. The bubble starts before they leave home. This is not something that others doing the standard 14 day quarantine have had to do.

Others just do 14 days quarantine and then are 100% free to do whatever that state allows. AFL players etc are not.

While you do want family including young children to be able to join their partners/fathers that is very harsh, and indeed cruel, on all for such a long period of time.


Yes there are most probably various staff in Qld. But they would in most cases they will not be as good . But even if they were, remember that they too would have to enter the bubble = 14 day quarantine first and then ongoing bubble quarantine for them with no mixing with family and friends. Would they be willing to enter such a bubble? And would this really achieve anything just swapping one bubble person for another.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I would say that the QLD government is handling these exemptions poorly, but that would emphasise the complete ineptitude of the ACT government who cannot or will not introduce a bubble with it's border towns, or even easier, control airport departures.

The QLD gov think its safer to let at-risk Victorians into an oft-breached bubble, despite there being no guarantee they're not bringing COVID into that bubble, than it is to let in an ACTerritorian where there hasn't been a whiff of COVID in two months.

If you mean the AFL Bubble, those entering are tested well prior to departure (as the AFL itself does not want to have Covid 19 enter the bubble), have to transit to the airport in controlled ways, fly up on chartered aircraft with only other bubble enterers, transit by special buses on arrival.

All that seek to enter the bubble are then quarantined for 14 days at separate site, and only transition to an individual club bubble where ongoing isolation measures are set.

Once in that bubble they are then tested twice per week.

So no guarantees, but there are many controls in place.


Others (ie essential workers, joe public etc) that fly-in just do what they like , travel with others who may or may not be infected, and only get tested after arrival.

 

[Lynda2475]

There were cases of players dining at restaurants in FNQ so doesnt seem to me that bubble is so strict on not leaving home except to play or train. They are not allowed to go to bars but they are allowed to dine out with others in the bubble. And they can go to beach, park and sociliase with the now 100s of others inside the bubble, so those kids would have plenty of other kids to hang with etc, unlike if they had stayed in Vic. The whole arrangement reeks of privilege and entitlement, its not a hardship, the families have been able to escape Vic lockdowns and harsh winter, for months in the sun with their friends (the other afl families and staff).

When key medical staff along the border are still restricted, leaving parts of northern rivers without sufficient doctors and nurses, the footy privilege is unecessary and a kick in the teeth for those who are actually sacrificing their health and well being.

 

[jakeseven7]

There were cases of players dining at restaurants in FNQ so doesnt seem to me that bubble is so strict on not leaving home except to play or train. They are not allowed to go to bars but they are allowed to dine out with others in the bubble. And they can go to beach, park and sociliase with the now 100s of others inside the bubble, so those kids would have plenty of other kids to hang with etc, unlike if they had stayed in Vic. The whole arrangement reeks of privilege and entitlement, its not a hardship, the families have been able to escape Vic lockdowns and harsh winter, for months in the sun with their friends (the other afl families and staff).

When key medical staff along the border are still restricted, leaving parts of northern rivers without sufficient doctors and nurses, the footy privilege is unecessary and a kick in the teeth for those who are actually sacrificing their health and well being.

The AFL contingent when quarantining in hotels are allowed to use the pool and bar facilities in their hotels....

Deadly serious....

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Ok let us assume that every AFL player is totally irresponsible, which option for this cohort in terms of public health risk is better?

• Option A. Living in supervised bubbles where they are all tested twice each week etc (Any positive test can be quarantined and investigated aftera gap of at most several days)
• Or Option B. Unemployed and left to their own devices ( Players may catch Covid19 and keep spreading the virus till presumably a responsible person get infected and presents for testing)

Net result of Option A so far is one player who had a positive test result. Subsequent blood testing suggested that he most likely had caught CV19 6 or more weeks early while in Ireland and was not contagious at the time of the one positive test.

Option B would be?



Covid 19 is not disappearing any time soon, and so personally in this Covid 19 world I think as many ways as possible need to be found to get as many of us as possible back to work now in ways where it is Covidsafe to do so. Whether that be in an abattoir or a football field. Each industry needs a set of guidelines/rules to follow. Covidsafe does not mean zero, as breaches can happen. ie NZ second wave.

Professional Football, Netball, Soccer, Netball, Tennis etc are all paid work. So to my may of thinking if these sports can operate in a Covidesafe way they should permitted to do so.

If we don't get more people back to work in more industries then it would only be a matter of time before many in the public sector get stood down as well along with the vast numbers in the private sector who already are. There is no magic money tree to keep funding public sector employment at its current levels, social welfare etc if the private sector is not operating at reasonable levels.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

The AFL contingent when quarantining in hotels are allowed to use the pool and bar facilities in their hotels....

Deadly serious....

From a logical point of view, why is this a problem?

They are in a bubble, they are tested prior to entering the 14 day transition quarantine which must be completed before being allowed any contact with anyone outside of the transition bubble in the already established AFL bubbles.

If anyone in that transition bubble returns a positive test, then the 14 day quarantine period would be reset for all.

In essence it is a group quarantine. So they all bare the risk of a longer quarantine if someone does test positive.


If you mean the Club bubbles. They are in effect in shared isolation and are all tested twice weekly.


I have a pool at my house, and anyone in my household can swim in it. My neighbour is not in my bubble and so he cannot.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

So are the AFL tests paid for by the Australian taxpayer or AFL funded?

A lot of us wouldn’t mind working and getting tested twice per week. We are not offered that option. Think of it 25 million tests every half week.

 

[p--and--t]

So are the AFL tests paid for by the Australian taxpayer or AFL funded?

A lot of us wouldn’t mind working and getting tested twice per week. We are not offered that option. Think of it 25 million tests every half week.

Its my understanding, could be wrong, the AFL (well their sponsors and backers) are paying for them.

The costs of tests have been dropping remarkably of late, but not sure they all meet what the CHO called "the gold standard".

If the price was right, I don't see why some employers in relevant industries could not adopt that as a strategy to protect their businesses (with the consent of their employees)

[BTW: Australia's employee base is around 12M so about half the tests you suggested]

 

[SydneySwan]

Its my understanding, could be wrong, the AFL (well their sponsors and backers) are paying for them (the tests).

That was definitely the case when the NRL proposed the bubble-concept back in April. I would expect the AFL would have followed suit.

 

[TomVexille]

So are the AFL tests paid for by the Australian taxpayer or AFL funded?

A lot of us wouldn’t mind working and getting tested twice per week. We are not offered that option. Think of it 25 million tests every half week.

3 of us had to get a test a couple weeks ago as a prerequisite to get onto a building site and IIRC it cost our business around $150/test. AFAIK taxpayers are not paying for tests of people who are not suspected cases.

 

[drron]

3 of us had to get a test a couple weeks ago as a prerequisite to get onto a building site and IIRC it cost our business around $150/test. AFAIK taxpayers are not paying for tests of people who are not suspected cases.

3 months ago the hospital I was at was paying $50 for the rapid test which was more expensive than the usual test.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

So are the AFL tests paid for by the Australian taxpayer or AFL funded?

A lot of us wouldn’t mind working and getting tested twice per week. We are not offered that option. Think of it 25 million tests every half week.

Organisations can arrange to have their employees tested. But yes your, employer or you, will need to pay for it.

ie COVID-19 Testing for Organisations - Australian Clinical Labs

Organisations if seeking a variation to the standard industry restrictions would need to make a case to the state CHO. So you would also need your employer to be able to do this.

WA allowed its mines to keep working, but meant that FIFO had to move a longer 6 week rotation, and could not fly in from interstate (though could fly intrastate when zone borders were in play).

Screening for COVID-19​

We have commenced swab screening for our fly-in fly-out (FIFO) workforce for the coronavirus (COVID-19) as part of our total approach to minimising the spread of the virus. Our aim is to ensure that anyone travelling to site is free of the virus.​

​

• Screening will be conducted at drive-through locations in the Perth metropolitan area, so that workers will not have to leave their vehicle during the process. Qualified nursing staff with full medical PPE clothing and equipment will undertake all screening. The samples collected will be processed in a National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) accredited laboratory for analysis
  • The COVID-19 screening process will be part of Mineral Resources’ standard ‘fit for work’ regime, and will remain in place until the Commonwealth and State Governments declare that the coronavirus is no longer a risk to our community
  • The machines are capable of performing a high volume of tests and we have offered the screening process to other resource companies to ensure this pandemic does not force the closure of Western Australia’s mining industry

Our response to COVID-19 - Mineral Resources

Our response to the COVID-19 pandemic is driven by the care and discipline shown by every member of our workforce. It hasn’t always been easy, but every action we’ve taken has been designed to keep our people safe and our operations running.

www.mineralresources.com.au

The AFL had to do this in every state.

• Tasmania said no, and so no AFL games in Tasmania
• WA said yes, BUT teams had to have 14 day quarantine on arriving into WA, though WA did allow 2 teams entering to play a game against each other within 14 days as a "quarantine game" with spectators, but the two entering teams had to wait 14 days to play the WA teams.

PS: Some companies also do testing just to screen employees for their own peace of mind.

 

[p--and--t]

3 of us had to get a test a couple weeks ago as a prerequisite to get onto a building site and IIRC it cost our business around $150/test. AFAIK taxpayers are not paying for tests of people who are not suspected cases.

Not sure what is the main driver behind the drop in costs of tests but IIRC they started out at around $498 in early March and now some types are sub $50 (I'm guessing there is a wide variety of costs associated with the various methods, suppliers and validity of the results; then there is the cost of the test pack itself vs the analysis costs to get the result)

 

[lovetravellingoz]

The costs of tests have been dropping remarkably of late, but not sure they all meet what the CHO called "the gold standard".

The AFL had to lodge, and gain approval for, a Covidsafe plan with the CHO in each state. I have never seen the plans but my guess is that the CHO would have set the criterion for what test types, and labs to process the swabs, could be used.

 

[Seat0B]

Had to chuckle

View attachment 226676

That is just too funny for words - in a black humour kind of way.

Post automatically merged: Sep 3, 2020

Whilst it a relief they will be isolated for 14 days, being able to hold a press conference hardly seems to be the hotel quarantine others have to do, still seems like unnecessary travel, and unfair exemption. The cup could have ben couriered, given the players and refs already mostly in Qld, doesnt seem like these new arrivals were essential.

The more hypocrisy i see from AP, cowtowing to AFL to secure votes from a minority of Queenslanders who give a toss about it (Queensland is foremost a Rugby League state, and then Rugby Union) whilst keeping NSW and ACT locked out, the less inclined i am to spend any of my tourist dollars there when it does eventually reopen.

In heated agreement with you on all counts @Lynda2475

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Speaking of being gainfully employed. My wife just spoke with one of our neighbours. He was very happy as after having been stood down in March and unemployed ever since that he just recently gained a part time position as a NDIS carer for a person with dementia. So radically different from his former position in advertising where there simply are virtually no prospects at present.

The ability to work is vital for mental health, as well as for income to live on.

 

[PLM]

I like watching sport as much as the next person, but I feel that our country has become much too obsessed. The idea that people would vote for one candidate over another based on a sporting event taking place in the city or state is really quite odd. But I suppose bread and circuses have been used to distract and manipulate the population since Roman times...

 

[drron]

Not sure what is the main driver behind the drop in costs of tests but IIRC they started out at around $498 in early March and now some types are sub $50 (I'm guessing there is a wide variety of costs associated with the various methods, suppliers and validity of the results; then there is the cost of the test pack itself vs the analysis costs to get the result)

Just good old fashioned supply and demand.Many more companies making tests and the numbers needed have sky rocketed.

 

[jakeseven7]

Oh dear it’s getting hotter. The QLD CHO is just looking worse every single day, every time she speaks.

———

Leaked footage shows relaxed scenes from exempt AFL staff amid calls for QLD exemption overhaul


The QLD Premier has come under fire as footage leaked of relaxed scenes featuring 400 AFL executives, staff and family inside the Queensland AFL hub, as critics call on the state government to immediately ease quarantine exemptions for others trying to enter the state.

While some of those in the standard hotel quarantine program have raised concerns about access to fresh air and even food, those inside the AFL hub appear free to drink and play by the pool.

Beleaguered chief health officer Jeannette Young has denied the process does not show a double standard, with the exemptions granted for families of the group as they were "supporting the people who are putting this event on".

LNP leader Deb Frecklington claimed Queenslanders wanted to know why the families of AFL officials were able to gain exemptions

"What makes this more galling is that Queenslanders are being denied exemptions when they travel home from New South Wales after lifesaving surgery," she said.

"The footy officials are sitting down by the pool bar in Queensland, to me that seems like double standards," Mr Frydenberg said

Footage shows relaxed scenes from AFL hub amid calls for exemption overhaul

Queensland health authorities insist there is no double standard at play, after about 400 staff, players and their families flew into the state ahead of the October grand final.

www.smh.com.au

 

[p--and--t]

Leaked footage shows relaxed scenes from exempt AFL staff amid calls for QLD exemption overhaul


The QLD Premier has come under fire as footage leaked of relaxed scenes featuring 400 AFL executives, staff and family inside the Queensland AFL hub, as critics call on the state government to immediately ease quarantine exemptions for others trying to enter the state.

But the move comes after numerous examples of hotel quarantine exemptions being denied to those seeking a return to Queensland.

While some of those in the standard hotel quarantine program have raised concerns about access to fresh air and even food, those inside the AFL hub appear free to drink and play by the pool.

Beleaguered chief health officer Jeannette Young has denied the process does not show a double standard, with the exemptions granted for families of the group as they were "supporting the people who are putting this event on".

LNP leader Deb Frecklington claimed Queenslanders wanted to know why the families of AFL officials were able to gain exemptions

"What makes this more galling is that Queenslanders are being denied exemptions when they travel home from New South Wales after lifesaving surgery," she said.

Federal politicians including Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Nationals deputy leader David Littleproud also heaped criticism Queensland's way on Thursday.

"The footy officials are sitting down by the pool bar in Queensland, to me that seems like double standards," Mr Frydenberg said

Footage shows relaxed scenes from AFL hub amid calls for exemption overhaul

Queensland health authorities insist there is no double standard at play, after about 400 staff, players and their families flew into the state ahead of the October grand final.

www.smh.com.au

It's not double standards. It's just they are "special", and everyone else isn't