Australian (Open) Tennis and COVID-19

[Must...Fly!]

I was referring to the quarantine program which we have established through various pieces of evidence is not being paid for by Tennis Australia despite many claims to the contrary

 

[Pushka]

Me too, and not just for leisure.

After what will be almost a year I am getting to actually operate and deliver a real face to face project in Qld in Feb. Feels very good to working properly again and I am very much looking forward to it. Though LOL it meant for the first time since I commenced full time work post university 4 decades ago that I had to actually work through the Christmas period!

I know exactly what you mean. MrP very excited that he is doing his first face-face workshop in Adelaide next month. First time in almost 12 months. For the last ? Years he has done at least two a week, mainly in Melbourne.

Post automatically merged: Jan 21, 2021

Now we all know that taxpayers do not fully fund the AO.

And the Arts and Film Industry receive all sorts of incentives, grants etc. Some just due to Covid, and some that happen anyway.

ie but one example

PM pledges $400m to film industry in bid to bring blockbusters to Australian shores

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will visit the Gold Coast today to pledge $400 million in a bid to attract overseas investors but Screen Producers Australia say the focus should be on Australian productions.

www.abc.net.au

Tom Hanks etc seem to flit in and out of the country.



And again to me this is a good thing.

Agree. He came back a few months ago but then saw him on Biden's inauguration. Doing the best of both worlds. Alright for some.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I was referring to the quarantine program which we have established through various pieces of evidence is not being paid for by Tennis Australia despite many claims to the contrary

We have?

Now yes I have seen the recent posts on SA. But the Vic Gov is not paying for all the quarantine costs. TA is.

Tennis Australia has backtracked from comments made by its chief executive, Craig Tiley, that the Victorian government would foot part of the bill for quarantining Australian Open players, coaches and officials.

The organisation was forced to clarify the details after Tiley told radio station 3AW on Wednesday morning that the state government was contributing to an expected $40m in quarantine costs.


Tiley did not put a figure on the government’s share. “That’s still to be determined because we’re still in the middle of that,” he said. “Probably the end of next week or the week after we’ll know exactly.”

The comments prompted a sharp rebuke from the Victorian police minister Lisa Neville, who insisted Tennis Australia – and not taxpayers – would foot the entire bill for quarantining those associated with the Australian Open, as the number of positive Covid-19 cases linked to the tennis tournament grew to 10.

“Hotel quarantine for the Australian Open is fully funded by Tennis Australia, I’ve triple confirmed that again today,” Neville said. “I want to be really clear about this.”


Neville said Australians returning home from overseas had to pay for their own quarantine, so it was only appropriate that players do the same.

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In a statement issued late on Wednesday afternoon Tennis Australia conceded “Tennis Australia is funding the AO [Australian Open] quarantine program”.

“The Victorian government support relates to ongoing discussions about funding for an extension to the agreement to host the AO in Melbourne and a range of other assets to help promote the city and the state, domestically and internationally,” the statement said.

 

[Lynda2475]

But TA charged SA Govt a surprisngly similar amount for the right to have the top tier players HQ and play a demo in Adelaide - so reality is there is significant governeent money in the mix.

Not to mention the things Vic Govt is funding like the Poilicing. And the Govt grants and Covid payments TA got received last year (and likley again this year).

 

[Pushka]

But TA charged SA Govt a surprisngly similar amount for the right to have the top tier players HQ and play a demo in Adelaide - so reality is there is significant governeent money in the mix.

Not to mention the things Vic Govt is funding like the Poilicing. And the Govt grants and Covid payments TA got received last year (and likley again this year).

So in reality TA is covering the cost of their quarantine program by charging SA a few million more, just for a couple of demo shows, and us mugs in SA fell for the deal.

 

[RooFlyer]

Not forgetting the “Major Event” funding Tennis Australia are receiving from the Victorian taxpayers.

comparing the Australian Open mega-fly-in of what, 1,400 people from all sorts of overseas COVID hotspots ( to put it mildly) - with a number actually virus positive on arrival or shortly afterwards ( Oops ... Sorry, “shedding”) - with a local stage production with a time span of months and no ‘quickie’ fly-ins is getting pretty desperate.

Again, from my point of view, it’s not the tennis, but the hypocrisy of the Victorian Government as to “Keeping Victorians safe is out first priority”, ie the way they are treating their own residents, that should be called out.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

But TA charged SA Govt a surprisngly similar amount for the right to have the top tier players HQ and play a demo in Adelaide - so reality is there is significant governeent money in the mix.

Not to mention the things Vic Govt is funding like the Poilicing. And the Govt grants and Covid payments TA got received last year (and likley again this year).

Yes The Vic Gov still provides services just as it always does.

However it also charges fees for deploying police at the sporting and entertainment events. So whether your are running a rock concert, Disney On Ice, or a football match, or a Tennis Event Vic Police bills.

Take out the HQ and it is all pretty normal. The bigger the event, the bigger the government involvement. From the Sydney Olympics (which I assume was not fully funded by itself) on down.

Matt Damon for example has police monitoring which is being paid for. But I doubt that any general government costs would be recouped.

ie
Dr Turner said the Damon family initially quarantined for two weeks in a ski lodge in the US and had COVID tests every three days. They then arrived by private jet in Australia on Saturday and moved into a rented house, where they are paying for their own hospital-grade cleaning, private security, police monitoring, staff, meals and regular medical checks for two more weeks of quarantine.

But no mention for recovering other government costs. The NSW Government of course appreciating that there are many benefits from making a movie.

Matt however gets to bring his whole family, and probably does not have to do daily testing.


Again I am personally in favour of these things. Good government and good business.

 

[kamchatsky]

So in reality TA is covering the cost of their quarantine program by charging SA a few million more, just for a couple of demo shows, and us mugs in SA fell for the deal.

It is probably seen as a win by SA government, and it is the price to pay for getting stars to play there.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Again, from my point of view, it’s not the tennis, but the hypocrisy of the Victorian Government as to “Keeping Victorians safe is out first priority”, ie the way they are treating their own residents, that should be called out.

Which I agree with and have posted on many times. ie The recent travel restrictions have been too tight, and the initial NSW closure with just over a days notice too tight.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

It is probably seen as a win by SA government, and it is the price to pay for getting stars to play there.

Yes they quite probably view it as a fee to get the event.

How much bang for their buck there is something that I imagine that they crunched the numbers on.

 

[Pushka]

It is probably seen as a win by SA government, and it is the price to pay for getting stars to play there.

For a couple of hours? I don't see any value at all.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Daniel Andrews apologises for tennis quarantine hotel PPE mess

Daniel Andrews contradicts one of his own ministers when he says the discarded protective gear was strewn across the footpath because a garbage truck was late to pick up overflowing biohazard bins.

www.abc.net.au

Oops. Left hand right hand. Again

But trust in the government - they know what they're doing.

 

[jakeseven7]

Hardly unusual, live theatre been happening in Sydney for ages - smaller stages production since October, and flagship ones like Pippin in Nov and Frozen since start of Dec. Plus events like VangGogh Alive were happening from late August. Just had to QR check in and wear a mask.

Melbournians arent be treated to thinkgs that other states arent, Vic has super small limits on office workers still (irrespective of square meter rule) where people have been back in offices in Sydney since September.

Lots of Sydney offices remain closed or voluntarily attendance only like ours.

We are tracking at only 20% in Sydney and went back down to 0% during the latest outbreak. Our digital agency in Sydney (about 500 office staff) are all still working from home.

To say people have been back in offices since September is a generalisation, they have been ALLOWED back in offices sure, but many people are still working from home.

 

[jakeseven7]

Very much viewed as a Melborune event from Sydney - doesnt really get pitched as a Australian thing, all the advertising is Melbounre centric.

In other years where there are lead up events like Hopman cup in Perth and whatever the Sydney one is called, players coming for the AO may come early to do those lead up events and acclimtise to the heat after northern winters. But this year except for the demo event SA just paid $40m for, those other events arent happening and so other states arent benefitting financially in any way.

The decision to go ahead is solely for Victoria;s benefit. 1.5M people in Sydney are still in fake Red zones so couldnt spend $ to support the event even if they cared to. Plus moving it to Feb, outside of school holidays means less people in a position to travel down for AO even if their borders are open.

People I know who go to AO every year arent going this year, because they were forced to take their leave in Dec and Jan and have buckleys of getting more leave in Feb - which is the busiest month for work in the first quarter with everyone back.

I think you missed the overarching point..... but that's ok.

This year perhaps the direct financial impact is more Victorian centric than other years, sure - but in normal years something like 67% of AO visitors go elsewhere in Australia as well, so its really important we keep the Australian Open as a grand slam, and here in Australia - for the future. Plus all the normal lead in events as you mention.

I think you'll find the lead commercial broadcaster is Sydney based too, I can guarantee they are benefiting financially from the ad revenue so again 'the other states aren't benefiting in any way' is incorrect.

We have faith in our quarantine programs and track and trace controls if something leaks, in most states but especially VIC, NSW and QLD. So its been deemed a risk worth taking.

 

[Lynda2475]

67% of AO visitors go elsewhere in Australia as well

Just curious is that of all visitors or of all international viistors?

Because of course Aussies go elsehwere within Australia (and that wouldnt change if AO went away).

Not surprising given the distance/effort to get to Australia that internationals visit more than one place. But which destination the AO or the other place is the primary reason for coming?

From the one time i had the displeasure of attending the AO (centre court match), most of the people in the crowd seemed to be Aussies.

As an aside --> I'll never understand the point of Rod Laver Arena having a roof, if they dont use it, keeping it open on a 40C+ day, with heat reflection off the court made it unbearable to watch, why the players didnt demand it closed it beyond me.

I would think a bigger drawcard for inetrnational tourism in Australia in January would be the opportuinity to escape a northern winter and get some beach time.

Either way it is not a dead cert that if AO didnt happen this year that the grand slam would be lost for good. Especially as it not a dead cert that the French, US or Wimbledon will be able to proceed this year either.

Most of Asia is having its own lockdowns at the moment - Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan all unlikley to have bene unable to host in Jan this year. Japan's focussed is the delayed Olympics already in doubt (plus its winter there). Sinagpore being super strict at the moment - no arrovals allowed from UK, as is Hong Kong (which require 21 days quarantine). Indonesia is having a covid crisis, winter in Korea etc.

 

[Must...Fly!]

They don't just come for the tournament. The Open is a showcase for Australia as a destination any time of year, not just the weeks of the Open.

That is not disputable from my perspective but I do believe there is plenty to dispute about holding it this year with the risks and costs involved. If it didn't come back - the government would still have a major tennis tournament and would just find another major headline event to spend money on.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

So has the AO has caused a massive spike in HQ cases?

I will let everyone do their own pro rata calculations, which we cannot be precise in as the actual weekly total of HQ arrivals is not published per day or week (Though if you do have a source please share).








PS And yes is not really a statistically meaningful period due the many variables. ie Different countries that people may originate from

 

[Must...Fly!]

So has the AO has caused a massive spike in HQ cases?

I will let everyone do their own prorata calculations

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The argument was always that there are citizens stuck overseas and residents stuck interstate who cannot return while tennis players have the taxpayer red carpet rolled out.

I am glad no additional cases have come from this farce. The fact no cases leaked out up to now is good but changes nothing about my opinion of the entire exercise.

 

[RooFlyer]

So has the AO has caused a massive spike in HQ cases?

So has anyone - here or elsewhere - claimed that it has? No, its a straw man argument, again defending the tennis sideshow against the odds. Note:

The argument was always that there are citizens stuck overseas and residents stuck interstate who cannot return while tennis players have the taxpayer red carpet rolled out.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

If it didn't come back - the government would still have a major tennis tournament and would just find another major headline event to spend money on.

The AO is Tennis Australia's event. If they did not proceed, their situation would have been dire. Their income from the AO underpins them for the whole year, and so for TA it is not just the few weeks of the AO but it is their whole year and future on the line. And TA operate and runs programs throughtout Australia, and so this is not just a "Melbourne" benefit. Would the Federal Government hand them a few hundred million to bail them out?

The Vic Gov would survive. But they do want the economic benefits of a continual and regular stream of major and minor events. This helps to fill the hotels and all the other businesses like restaurants and the various tour operators and the like. That then feeds the businesses that in turn feed them.

The growth of Tourism in Vic has as a solid foundation on people coming to do and experience things, as opposed to say more sightseeing or being on beaches. They come for things like the AO, Melbourne Cup (Which is not just a day but a whole race carnival of over a week), Shopping, Theatre, Fashion, Restaurants and the like.