Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[SydneySwan]

Perhaps we can trial a Preclearance facility for each state at Sydney Airport like the US does in Canada…

We are operating like separate countries so we might as well run all the flights through international.

Yes it would be a good system test prior to when we actually become separate countries. In my darker moments I tend to think this may actually happen.

 

[dajop]

Maybe the pass should be shown at Check in.I was asked in April last year for my pass when checking in on a VA flight from BNE-MEL.
Not been asked this year even though on 1 occasion I have had to have an Essential traveller pass.

Yes, the state governments could collectively throw a relatively small amount of money at the airlines to do these checks at check-in or prior to boarding. I am sure the airlines would be happy to collect whatever $$ they can. (A much more positive version than another way, which I don't think is fair, is to do what they do with international travel and fine airlines for carrying passengers who don't have the appropriate documentation, which could also be perhaps unconstitutional?).

 

[Seat0B]

This is an argument lost on most, and where the "wait for pfizer" crowd should be truly ashamed of themselves.


Unfortunately we're probably not quite at that stage, but on principle once that time comes, I absolutely agree. You cannot hold the majority to restrictions in life because a minority of people CHOOSE not to be protected. As you said, that is up to them. I am confident the majority of the electorate will slowly move to that line of thinking over the next 6-12 months.

And not just the younger generation. I’m slap bang in the middle at 60 and if we assume I have 20 good years left in me, I have been robbed of 10% of my remaining life to do things I want to do. After devoting the first 25 years of my life to education and the next 25+ to raising a family, I deeply resent having this opportunity to live for my own enjoyment ripped away by incompetent governments at all levels, and by being held to ransom by anti-vaxxers and people who just won‘t comply with simple commonsense rules.

I have already made my 2022 new year’s resolution and it is full on civil disobedience if we are not living free and clear by then. Anyone who has not been vaccinated by then has chosen that path and I will not give up even another day of my right to live life how I want to for people who won’t help themselves. By 1 January 202 , we will be past the point when everyone has had more than fair warning and chance to get the shot. And before we run off about the people who have medical reasons not to be vaccinated, the number of those people is apparently vanishing small, according to the oncologist and respiratory specialist I had a social engagement with recently. Even the anaphylactic can be vaccinated - just have to do it in hospital not at a clinic.

so watch out for the activist granny in Canberra next year. That will be me and several of my friends. Because of my work, I’ve never felt free to protest government stupidity before, but at my age, the shackles are lifting and for sure you will hear me roar.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

At least 3 people have flown from MEL to Tasmania when Victoria has been in LockdownSo really hypocritical pointing the finger at NSW Government for letting people fly from SYD without permits.
Maybe the pass should be shown at Check in.I was asked in April last year for my pass when checking in on a VA flight from BNE-MEL.
Not been asked this year even though on 1 occasion I have had to have an Essential traveller pass.

I accept your point - but the question was asked up thread 'what more could NSW possibly do?' I was just offering an example. I'm not sure anyone has asked what more could Victoria be doing?

It's not so much the act of getting on the plane - although that goes to the character of the individuals concerned... it's also about the seriousness of the message being delivered in NSW. If the restrictions are only moderate, and not really enforced... is it getting through?

 

[Seat0B]

In Australia it's not absolute freedoms at that very granular level you describe. It's the umbrella freedoms such as the right to vote who you want to represent you. Freedom of thought. (Limited) freedom of speech. Australia does not have a bill of rights like America.

Oh or like the right to freely enter or leave your country? Without needing an exit permit? Or to go to any significant life event of your family or God forbid, even just a friend, who happens to live in another state? or worse still, lives overseas. Or to return to your home, job, family after you have had the temerity to leave your state of residence? Or to want to be with your 87 year old widowed mother with melanoma on your not too long ago deceased father’s birthday?

Although I guess all of that is pretty hard to when your country actually no longer exists and you have to deal with despots in the colonies that you did not elect but who still control your life.

There is so much wrong with this situation, it beggars belief.

 

[Seat0B]

Free to leave Australia for a country that better meets your requirements as all the surveys show you are in by far the minority - as the three State elections results have demonstrated.

Hmm actually, not free to leave Australia at all unless some faceless official finds your reason compelling enough.

 

[SydneySwan]

so watch out for the activist granny in Canberra next year. That will be me and several of my friends. Because of my work, I’ve never felt free to protest government stupidity before, but at my age, the shackles are lifting and for sure you will hear me roar.

Once you reach 60+ you have reached ‘peak arrestability’ where arrests at protests are generally inconsequential for you. Go for it!

 

[Seat0B]

Are you serious? We are not making equal sacrifices according to what is important in our lives. And we were never 'all in this together'. God I despise that phrase now. The model being used might have hit your sweet spot but not mine.

Hear hear. Me too.

 

[Seat0B]

It isn't the responsibility of the exiting state to check the credentials of people boarding flights for interstate, nor is the airlines responsibility. Every state has a completely different process and it is up to that state to patrol its own border and rules.

Oh, you mean like the border control approaches when you cross from one country to another

 

[jase05]

And some people even live in Canberra and work in surrounding NSW.

Also have the border running right down the middle of suburban streets

 

[Pushka]

Also have the border running right down the middle of suburban streets

I always get twitchy this time of the night when I see you post just in case you have more info. I need two clear days please and not a lockdown just yet.

 

[Seat0B]

Also have the border running right down the middle of suburban streets

Certainly in one of the newer developments that is exactly the case.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I accept your point - but the question was asked up thread 'what more could NSW possibly do?' I was just offering an example. I'm not sure anyone has asked what more could Victoria be doing?

It's not so much the act of getting on the plane - although that goes to the character of the individuals concerned... it's also about the seriousness of the message being delivered in NSW. If the restrictions are only moderate, and not really enforced... is it getting through?

I don’t know how many times we need to say it.
The message in NSW is that rampant spread of Covid kills people and the economy.
The restrictions are not moderate at all and they are enforced.
If we are to have any serious hope of returning to some sense of normality and being able to travel interstate and internationally then we need to get real.

Covid Zero is gone in NSW, and by default that will happen in other states. I wish it weren’t so but it is and in order to move on we need to accept that. Cases will rise, people will die of a range of things including Covid. Get everyone vaccinated whilst we keep our citizens as safe as we can. Once we are at an acceptable range of fully immunized then we can stop existing and start living including the ability to travel freely both within and out with Australia.

 

[Pushka]

On the weekend we will largely see AFL played in empty stadiums. Watching the Cricket in the UK, with their excellent vaccination rate almost 80%, the oval is full of people and no masks. We can only hope that continues and that Australia catches up with the world.

 

[Milboo]

At least 3 people have flown from MEL to Tasmania when Victoria has been in LockdownSo really hypocritical pointing the finger at NSW Government for letting people fly from SYD without permits.
Maybe the pass should be shown at Check in.I was asked in April last year for my pass when checking in on a VA flight from BNE-MEL.
Not been asked this year even though on 1 occasion I have had to have an Essential traveller pass.

Last major Melbourne lockdown I know of someone who used their business permit to travel to Sydney to attend a sports match. Completely unrelated to their business.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

The Victorian Exposure site list now includes a cluster of Tier 1 and 2 sites, mainly food/wine/market venues in the South Melbourne/ Albert Park area and so most likely a new cases or cases that will live there.

Plus presumably a Tier 1 workplace in a CBD building, which may or may not be their workplace..

Case alerts - public exposure sites | Coronavirus Victoria

Victorian locations where there is a risk you may have been exposed to COVID-19

www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au

 

[Seat0B]

ANU students isolating as Canberra enters week-long lockdown with four Covid cases reported

Health authorities yet to identify the source of the initial ACT case, who spent several days in the community while infectious

www.theguardian.com

Students from a bunch of colleges at ANU isolating after exposure to COVID venues.

 

[Must...Fly!]

The Victorian Exposure site list now includes a cluster of Tier 1 and 2 sires, mainly food/wine/market venues in South Melbourne/ Albert Park area and so most likely a new cases or cases that will live there.

Plus presumably a Tier 1 work[lace in a CBD building, which may or may not be their workplace..

View attachment 255354

Case alerts - public exposure sites | Coronavirus Victoria

Victorian locations where there is a risk you may have been exposed to COVID-19

www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au

Well, I was going to go there tomorrow for fruit and veg shopping. I might steer clear now...(well, they'll all be closed anyway...)

 

[lovetravellingoz]

ANU students isolating as Canberra enters week-long lockdown with four Covid cases reported

Health authorities yet to identify the source of the initial ACT case, who spent several days in the community while infectious

www.theguardian.com

Students from a bunch of colleges at ANU isolating after exposure to COVID venues.

I would have my doubts on how suitable such Student Halls would to keep housing students if some of their number are positive.

 

[jase05]

This has been posted on SM