Australia to Reduce Incoming Int. Passenger Capacity from July 2021

[RAM]

I just don’t understand why they are continuing to build any of these quarantine facilities now…. What a waste of taxpayers money, unless they are preparing for the next pandemic?

At a cost of just two days of the NSW lockdown to build from scratch & fully fund the operation for 5 years - seems like one of the least wasteful decisions made by the Federal Govt.

Now if they decided to claw back some of the $20+ billion incorrectly claimed by businesses that did not see profits drop then that would cover 300 years of operation...

Victoria has to have somewhere to house people (in quarantine) coming from NSW next year,

 

[mviy]

I just don’t understand why they are continuing to build any of these quarantine facilities now…. What a waste of taxpayers money, unless they are preparing for the next pandemic?

It provides contingency options for if a new variant shakes things up and provides for quarantining those from high risk areas.

 

[jakeseven7]

It provides contingency options for if a new variant shakes things up and provides for quarantining those from high risk areas.

We will see I guess. Will probably end up being used for school camps

 

[mviy]

If the Feds let say 100k people leave for short term trips, a new variant emerges and they close the borders again they need to be able to bring more people back than under the current caps.

There have been no outbreaks from Howard Springs into the community.

 

[thatsthatmattressman]

Is there a news source someone can point me to declaring the extension by 2 months of the reduced caps please?

 

[Mattg]

Is there a news source someone can point me to declaring the extension by 2 months of the reduced caps please?

This has been covered on AFF, as you may have seen:

Australian Government Extends Halved Arrival Caps Until End of October 2021

The Australian government has informed international airlines flying into Australia that the reduced inbound arrival caps will be extended until at least

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

I don't believe there has been an official announcement from the Australian government about this, nor is it likely forthcoming. But the government informed the airlines that this would be the case at the start of this week, which is why so many people have reported getting bumped off September/October flights since Monday.

 

[justinbrett]

Queensland are building Wellcamp unilaterally now. Hope you like the 2 hour bus ride.

 

[mviy]

Queensland are building Wellcamp unilaterally now.

If the states are the ones who believe purpose built quarantine facilities are necessary then they should stick there money where their mouth is, as the saying goes.

 

[levelnine]

I don't believe there has been an official announcement from the Australian government about this, nor is it likely forthcoming.

The public announcement will be tomorrow afternoon after National Cabinet.

 

[Mattg]

The public announcement will be tomorrow afternoon after National Cabinet.

Makes sense. I expect you are correct.

 

[justinbrett]

If the states are the ones who believe purpose built quarantine facilities are necessary then they should stick there money where their mouth is, as the saying goes.

Apparently PM didn't know, and the federal government has not approved it.

Journo: "Does the PM know?"
AP: "He does now"

Bit of a risky move.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Bit of a risky move.

That's one way of putting it.

It's possible that what we might be witnessing here is some last minute power grabbing. The State funding such sites which were rejected by the Commonwealth does create the basis for an ongoing story about protecting Queenslanders for example. The problem is that if the Queensland government is signalling to the business community that long term managed quarantine is the answer, then it creates a pretty big conundrum for tourism.

If NSW has open borders for international travel (from certain countries, fully vaccinated, etc) and QLD doesn't, then all people will do is go to NSW for 2 weeks then go to QLD, or forget about the latter entirely. Similarly, who in NSW would go to QLD for a holiday if they demand quarantine on arrival, when you could just go to a travel bubble nation and come and go freely from overseas?

 

[Seat0B]

This has been covered on AFF, as you may have seen:

Australian Government Extends Halved Arrival Caps Until End of October 2021

The Australian government has informed international airlines flying into Australia that the reduced inbound arrival caps will be extended until at least

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

I don't believe there has been an official announcement from the Australian government about this, nor is it likely forthcoming. But the government informed the airlines that this would be the case at the start of this week, which is why so many people have reported getting bumped off September/October flights since Monday.

So much transparency and accountability, it’s truly stunning.

 

[Seat0B]

Queensland are building Wellcamp unilaterally now. Hope you like the 2 hour bus ride.

Sarcasm alert.

It’s such a great idea to be cooped up on a bus for a 2hr ride with people who may or may not have COVID, so you can get to your cabin style quarantine accommodation to minimise shared airflow. Yep I know most of them also shared your flight for 24hrs as well, but you know those super effective aircraft HEPA filters.

 

[Pushka]

That's one way of putting it.

It's possible that what we might be witnessing here is some last minute power grabbing. The State funding such sites which were rejected by the Commonwealth does create the basis for an ongoing story about protecting Queenslanders for example. The problem is that if the Queensland government is signalling to the business community that long term managed quarantine is the answer, then it creates a pretty big conundrum for tourism.

If NSW has open borders for international travel (from certain countries, fully vaccinated, etc) and QLD doesn't, then all people will do is go to NSW for 2 weeks then go to QLD, or forget about the latter entirely. Similarly, who in NSW would go to QLD for a holiday if they demand quarantine on arrival, when you could just go to a travel bubble nation and come and go freely from overseas?

SA Premier did say he wasn't seeking funds for a quarantine facility because in order to do so meant that the Feds had the final say in arrival numbers. I wonder if AP has read the fine print!

 

[mviy]

SA Premier did say he wasn't seeking funds for a quarantine facility because in order to do so meant that the Feds had the final say in arrival numbers. I wonder if AP has read the fine print!

The facility in QLD that is funded by the Feds is to increase capacity over the existing caps. A facility that is wholly funded by the state or private corporations can replace hotel quarantine places.

The thing is the Feds didn't want to fund building a quarantine facility only to find that it does not increase the numbers able to come home.

 

[PineappleSkip]

The "pause" announcement mentioned that more than 1/2 the people currently in Qld Hotel Quarantine are travellers from down south. I think this was a big but unstated factor in AP supporting reducing the caps, because they were having a similar capacity crisis when they were making their noise about this.

Queensland are building Wellcamp unilaterally now. Hope you like the 2 hour bus ride.

I would just like the SYD-WTB flights to be reinstated. Maybe it will happen now.

Cheers skip

 

[Kendall Roy]

'To see that empathy in a little person was so moving': Students, community rally behind arrivals from Afghanistan

The Adelaide community has rallied behind a group of people who flew into Australia from Afghanistan, sending well-wishes and donations of much-needed clothes, food and toys.

www.abc.net.au

Sounds like a stack of incoming from KBL will take up slots over the next month. I have conflicting views on this one!

 

[justinbrett]

'To see that empathy in a little person was so moving': Students, community rally behind arrivals from Afghanistan

The Adelaide community has rallied behind a group of people who flew into Australia from Afghanistan, sending well-wishes and donations of much-needed clothes, food and toys.

www.abc.net.au

Sounds like a stack of incoming from KBL will take up slots over the next month. I have conflicting views on this one!

The Afghanistan rescue flights are above the caps, they do not count.

 

[Kendall Roy]

The Afghanistan rescue flights are above the caps, they do not count.

I get that's the political line, but if they weren't expecting 1000+ returnees, then the cap may look a little different.

They're heading into an existing Quarantine hotel, not a new/temporary facility like Christmas Island

As of today 89 pax, so let's say 60 Rooms, are gone from the HGC in ADL for the next 14 days. I doubt this was factored as a requirement just over a week ago.