Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[SydneySwan]

Just heard the ABC News describing parts of the crowds gathering in Melbourne as 'go to protesters'.

 

[Batterytraveller]

Giving the construction industry the day off so they could attend protest seems to be working out well.

 

[33kft]

Giving the construction industry the day off so they could attend protest seems to be working out well.

For most it's their 4th in a week - it wouldn't have made a difference

 

[MelMel]

One fundamental difference in NSW is they gave the industry plenty of notice to wind down (at least 48 hours).

Construction starts early and the order closing it down in Vic happened around 9pm effective at midnight. You can't stop an industry that employs a quarter of a million people in such a short amount of time.

Hopefully we don't see an escalation of violence as Victoria Police would be stretched to the maximum right now.

2 days to makes sites safe

 

[kamchatsky]

Hate to say it, given all the non-compliance I have seen in construction areas in the past, I understand why Dan has taken the action now. However, I would have preferred that they did it earlier, given a lot of other sectors have already paid the price of shutdown for an extended period of time. That would have set a better tone for the construction industry.

 

[jakeseven7]

Giving the construction industry the day off so they could attend protest seems to be working out well.

Our Melbourne clinics have reported been absolutely swamped with tradies et al getting jabbed so I think a vast vast majority of them doing the right thing. Hopefully the state hubs have been too.

Just the usual nut jobs / conspiracy theorists and the rent a crowd anti vaxxers trying to blow things up more.

 

[Batterytraveller]

Our Melbourne clinics have reported been absolutely swamped with tradies et al getting jabbed so I think a vast vast majority of them doing the right thing. Hopefully the state hubs have been too.

Just the usual nut jobs / conspiracy theorists and the rent a crowd anti vaxxers trying to blow things up more.

100% agree that this is a vocal minority of selfish wankers.

Only yesterday I was talking with our deployment manager about verifying compliance across all our sites (not just VIC). No one is working for us without boots, hard hat hi-viz, mask or vax.

 

[justinbrett]

Seems very convenient to blame the protestors on the “hard right”.

Anti-vaxers are on both both sides. I wouldn’t exactly call Byron a fortress of right wing supporters.

CFMEU is a militant union. I have no doubt the protest is made up of all kinds of people, but at least some of them are legitimate union members (who may well be anti-vaxxers and/or Craig Kelly supporters).

 

[Lynda2475]

he children have suffered awfully in social development and education. They need every assistance they can get to normality as the impact of Covid on them is a great deal longer than adults.

Not disputing that, just why they are allowed to be inside, but vaccinated (lower risk) adults gatherings can only be outside. In my experience kids enjoy playing outside far more than adults do.

 

[OATEK]

Not disputing that, just why they are allowed to be inside, but vaccinated (lower risk) adults gatherings can only be outside. In my experience kids enjoy playing outside far more than adults do.

Pretty straight forward really. Parents working from home find it very difficult to "picnic" during the week. However, they can handle a couple of kids who will keep each other entertained inside. Great for the kids, and much easier to manage for parents WFH.

 

[Pushka]

Sounds like there are tensions in SA between SA Health and the PC. He over ruled health and allowed dancing in restricted venues. No community transmission in two months now so he opened it up.

 

[Lynda2475]

owever, they can handle a couple of kids who will keep each other entertained inside

Why not use the backyard? Outside doesn't have to be a park. Every afternoon for the last month since the weather got nice, and all day since the holidays started, I've witnessed kids here are roaming common property in inter household groups of much more than 3 with zero parental supervision in play.

If its safe for kids to be inside, then the same privilege ought to be extended to the fully vaxed adults. We cant gather in daylight hours because we are all working. But we could have 2 friends (or elderly parents, who cant picnic) over for dinner inside at significantly less risk than vaccinated kids.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Melbourne protests:

The West Gate Freeway is blocked in both directions near Montague Street, due to protesters on the freeway. Exit the freeway as soon as possible. If you're inbound exit at Todd Road. If you're outbound from the Domain Tunnel exit at Power Street or Kings Way.

 

[kamchatsky]

Why not use the backyard? Outside doesn't have to be a park. Every afternoon for the last month since the weather got nice, and all day since the holidays started, I've witnessed kids here are roaming common property in inter household groups of much more than 3 with zero parental supervision in play.

If its safe for kids to be inside, then the same privilege ought to be extended to the fully vaxed adults. We cant gather in daylight hours because we are all working. But we could have 2 friends (or elderly parents, who cant picnic) over for dinner inside at significantly less risk than vaccinated kids.

Well, you are assuming that every house has a backyard? There are tons of apartments and townhouses .....

 

[justinbrett]

Why not use the backyard? Outside doesn't have to be a park. Every afternoon for the last month since the weather got nice, and all day since the holidays started, I've witnessed kids here are roaming common property in inter household groups of much more than 3 with zero parental supervision in play.

If its safe for kids to be inside, then the same privilege ought to be extended to the fully vaxed adults. We cant gather in daylight hours because we are all working. But we could have 2 friends (or elderly parents, who cant picnic) over for dinner inside at significantly less risk than vaccinated kids.

Also NSW consider private outdoor spaces (balconies / backyards) the same as inside - hence why you can't have 5 adults over for a BBQ in your backyard or on the balcony.

Just a matter of compliance I think.

 

[OATEK]

Why not use the backyard? Outside doesn't have to be a park. Every afternoon for the last month since the weather got nice, and all day since the holidays started, I've witnessed kids here are roaming common property in inter household groups of much more than 3 with zero parental supervision in play.

If its safe for kids to be inside, then the same privilege ought to be extended to the fully vaxed adults. We cant gather in daylight hours because we are all working. But we could have 2 friends (or elderly parents, who cant picnic) over for dinner inside at significantly less risk than vaccinated kids.

Because its for kids!!

 

[Pushka]

Why not use the backyard? Outside doesn't have to be a park. Every afternoon for the last month since the weather got nice, and all day since the holidays started, I've witnessed kids here are roaming common property in inter household groups of much more than 3 with zero parental supervision in play.

If its safe for kids to be inside, then the same privilege ought to be extended to the fully vaxed adults. We cant gather in daylight hours because we are all working. But we could have 2 friends (or elderly parents, who cant picnic) over for dinner inside at significantly less risk than vaccinated kids.

We don't have a backyard. Do you have kids?

 

[lovetravellingoz]

One fundamental difference in NSW is they gave the industry plenty of notice to wind down (at least 48 hours).

They do have two days to close down. This has occurred each time construction industry has been closed down in Vic during the length of the pandemic. Sites have 2 days to shut down sites so that they are safe. There are also exception to perform necessary maintenance/emergency work throughout.

Plus a work that would be unsafe, can be either completed (if it cannot be reasonably be paused) or made safe.

They just cannot continue work that does not have to be done.

There is a building site near me being made safe today. I can hear the hammering now, and I noted what they were doing when I went for a walk earlier.

PS: I have been in the construction/infrastructure industry my entire working life.

 

[andye]

Why not use the backyard? Outside doesn't have to be a park. Every afternoon for the last month since the weather got nice, and all day since the holidays started, I've witnessed kids here are roaming common property in inter household groups of much more than 3 with zero parental supervision in play.

If its safe for kids to be inside, then the same privilege ought to be extended to the fully vaxed adults. We cant gather in daylight hours because we are all working. But we could have 2 friends (or elderly parents, who cant picnic) over for dinner inside at significantly less risk than vaccinated kids.

Cut the poor mites some slack. Despite being at almost no personal risk, they have been forced to miss out on normal friendships and play for extended periods while we adults get to the level where we feel protected. I'm sure you can hold out another few weeks for a dinner party.

 

[Lynda2475]

There are tons of apartments and townhouses

I live in a apartment, there are still outdoor areas on common property to gather more safely than indoors. Kids who live in apartments dont stay in doors all day, the numerous kids yelling and squealing whilst playing outside my apartment right now proves that.

NSW consider private outdoor spaces (balconies / backyards) the same as inside - hence why you can't have 5 adults over for a BBQ in your backyard or on the balcony. Just a matter of compliance I think.

Which is why this decision was odd, because no one is checking those adults in the house are vaxed, or that the parents of the kids visiting are vaxed. Lots of little spreader events about to happen, whilst many vaxed adults remain isolated.

Do you have kids?

No but that is completely irrelevant to risk level and/or fairness of the decision. Why is making indoor social interactions easier for unvaccinated children more important than a vaccinated adult?

Despite being at almost no personal risk,

Debatable, kids are the source of infection at the school my sister teaches at, which now has 40+ kids and 13 staff in 14 days of iso. There are many teachers in my family and social network all who state there have been far higher numbers of kids still attending school than you might imagine, and very few are the kids of essential workers.

There was already ability for kids to do the picnic thing, given ts school holidays they have much more ability to do so than us adults.

If you are going to allow indoor catch-ups make them a thing for all in eligible age groups who are fully vaxed.

I'm sure you can hold out another few weeks for a dinner party.

Well when your parents are elderly you cannot guarantee that, and picnics are not practical when mobility is an issue.