Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[Jmrocky]

NSW regional tourism is booming

Queensland second only to Tassie for smallest fall in domestic tourists

Queensland had the nation's second-smallest decline in domestic visitors during the pandemic to August, new research shows.

www.brisbanetimes.com.au

Your example of Byron booms regardless of COVID during the holidays.

 

[Port Power]

Just because JT is a doctor, doesnt mean the decisions she is making are medically based or sound. Looks more like fear based decisions than logical scientific ones,

NSW regional tourism is booming due to the closed borders, there is zero accomdation under $5k on Byron for xmas, new years and early Jan. The tourism ads NSW is running in SA, NT, ACT and Tas (they will run in Vic after the border opens too) is all about our regions and being open for
business. It isnt Queenslanders driving that boom, its those locked out of Queensland.

At same time Qld is squandering its advertising dollars running ads in Sydney and email campaigns to people who cant visit.

This is so reminiscent of other States slamming Western Australia way back when. Like Queensland, we were not “scared”. We were cautious and looking after our own health. And it worked. On current information, all states are likely to be open by mid December if no locally acquired cases occur in either Sydney or Melbourne. In the meantime we can enjoy direct flights to Tasmania without annoying stopovers.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

View attachment 233161View attachment 233161Is this the same case? They are from SA and previously tested positive

SA aged care worker in her 20's who tested positive in August.

 

[Pushka]

Probably but the news article I posted it from said it was a Melbourne person who was tested (again?) in SA and positive but likely not infectious.

An update. The woman was an SA Health worker sent to Victoria to help deal with the COVID crisis in Aged Care. On her return she tested positive but sounds like she had already tested positive, then negative, in Victoria.

 

[Pushka]

Surely that title belongs to the only state that didn't shut their borders

Is there one? Didn’t Victoria close their borders? Hence the kerfuffle recently? It was only enforced on the NSW side according to this article in order to preserve manpower in Victoria.

Border closes between NSW and Victoria as southern state records largest ever jump in Covid-19 cases | Victoria | The Guardian

Daniel Andrews says Victoria reported 127 new coronavirus cases on Monday along with two deaths, bringing the state’s death toll to 22

www.google.com.au

 

[Lynda2475]

Surely that title belongs to the only state that didn't shut their borders

But Vic did close their Borders to NZ, only reopening 2 weeks after NSW and are still not accepting returning Aussies from anywhere else inetrnational.

So come 23rd Nov NSW will hold the record for being first to open to all states (having been the last to close to Vic), territories and NZ without quarantine whilst continuing to accept returning aussies and not having ever placed restriction the free movement of its residents within its own state.

This is so reminiscent of other States slamming Western Australia way back when. Like Queensland, we were not “scared”. We were cautious and looking after our own health. And it worked. On current information, all states are likely to be open by mid December if no locally acquired cases occur in either Sydney or Melbourne. In the meantime we can enjoy direct flights to Tasmania without annoying stopovers.

Respectfully disagree, WA stayed closed to NT, Tas and SA months longer than necessary. Like Queensland it is largerly political for the upcoming election. Because WA have very relaxed distancing rules and low QR/Sign-in compliance they are actually more vulnerable to community spread should a case escape quarantine. Having never materially tested their track and trace, fear is a factor, fear of losing votes.

WA has a history of not really wanting to be part of Australia even though during mining downturns its GST from NSW and Vic that keep the state funded.

Most of the east coast are still critical of WA's stance, but given summer is the worst time to visit anywhere in WA north of Perth, its a mute point until dry season returns in April which is post election. Operators in Broome, Exmouth etc wont survive a another closed winter tourist season, without international visitors they need the east coast visitors. With partially open borders WA now have to worry about its residents holidaying in other states, whereas over winter they wouldnt let you leave and return easily.

 

[blackcat20]

Is there one? Didn’t Victoria close their borders? Hence the kerfuffle recently? It was only enforced on the NSW side according to this article in order to preserve manpower in Victoria.

Border closes between NSW and Victoria as southern state records largest ever jump in Covid-19 cases | Victoria | The Guardian

Daniel Andrews says Victoria reported 127 new coronavirus cases on Monday along with two deaths, bringing the state’s death toll to 22

www.google.com.au

NSW was closed to us, we havent been closed to anyone.

And while we declined to be part of the NZ bubble, they ended up here anyway. So no, VIC has never been closed to anyone.

 

[Lynda2475]

Your example of Byron booms regardless of COVID during the holidays.

But domestic tourism should have increased over winter with Aussies being prevented from travelling overseas. The operators lost international tourists and also lost domestic tourists. It was a perfect opportunity to grow domestic tourism, but during July and August the best months of the year to got the FNQ, NT and Northern WA the bulk of the Australian population were locked out.

Tas having smallest reduction is not surprising given Winter is low season for Tas (but high season for Queensland, WA and NT).

 

[Lynda2475]

And while we declined to be part of the NZ bubble, they ended up here anyway. So no, VIC has never been closed to anyone.

Respectfully disagree - whilst some New Zealanders entered Vic from NSW this was indirect, Vic was very clear in not accepting any direct flights from NZ, those only resumed this week. And Vic still hasnt agreed a date for accepting repatriation flights.

And Vic and WA are the only states to put restrictions on the free movement of the residents of their states within their own state - so intra state borders. Although WA was only wrt remote communities and lifted months ago.

 

[Pushka]

NSW was closed to us, we havent been closed to anyone.

And while we declined to be part of the NZ bubble, they ended up here anyway. So no, VIC has never been closed to anyone.

I think Andrews did close the border with agreement between him and NSW. Well, assuming the reporting is correct.

“....and the premier announced the state’s border with New South Wales would be closed from midnight on Tuesday.
Daniel Andrews said the border closure would be enforced only on the NSW side.
“[The closure] is the result of a phone hook-up between the prime minister and the premier of New South Wales and myself just an hour or so ago, where we have – all of us – agreed that the best thing to do is to close the border,” Andrews said on Monday morning.
“That closure will be enforced on the New South Wales side, so as not to be a drain on resources that are very much focused on fighting the virus right now across our state. I am grateful to the premier of NSW for her support in giving effect to that,” he said.

 

[Lynda2475]

That is correct Pushka it was Andrews and Scomo that asked Gladys to close the border. at the time Gladys was reluctant to do so, which was why NSW was the last state to close to Vic and introduce quarantine for people travelling from Vic into NSW.

 

[Jmrocky]

But domestic tourism should have increased over winter with Aussies being prevented from travelling overseas.

The article was comparing winter 2020 with 2019. You can't predict, with all things being equal, that open borders would have meant a growth from 2019 in domestic tourism because you've got no idea what the spread of COVID would have been and traveller's actions. At the end of the day, QLD is performing very well compared to other states with respect to domestic tourism, in spite of it's border stance.

Not to mention, this from the tourism industry body CEO himself:

"We have managed to increase intrastate travel, but we also fared better than other states because of what we've achieved in Queensland by listening to health authorities and its [COVID-19] management.
"This has boosted confidence to travel here."

 

[Port Power]

Respectfully disagree - whilst some New Zealanders entered Vic from NSW this was indirect, Vic was very clear in not accepting any direct flights from NZ, those only resumed this week. And Vic still hasnt agreed a date for accepting repatriation flights.

Victoria didn’t receive international flights due Melbourne having COVID-19. It was for the protection of incoming passengers. Melbourne was already suffering badly from the hotel quarantine debacle and would not have been able to quarantine any further arrivals.

 

[Lynda2475]

Well the busiest domestic air route in Sept 2020 was SYD-BNK / BNK-SYD, so defintely growth on NSW Northern Rivers tourism.

Thousands of QLD bookings made by people in NSW and ACT when the borders reopened in July (for July and August) were subsequently cancelled when AP slammed the border shut after only 2 weeks. That is quantified lost domestic tourism.

All things being equal, people still need to take a break so with inetrnational destinations off the table, domestic tourism should have definitely seen growth in domestic patronage (although a fall over all beause of lack of international). And in many destinations this is the case, one month isnt a big enough data point.

 

[OZDUCK]

But Vic did close their Borders to NZ, only reopening 2 weeks after NSW and are still not accepting returning Aussies from anywhere else inetrnational.

So come 23rd Nov NSW will hold the record for being first to open to all states (having been the last to close to Vic), territories and NZ without quarantine whilst continuing to accept returning aussies and not having ever placed restriction the free movement of its residents within its own state.



Respectfully disagree, WA stayed closed to NT, Tas and SA months longer than necessary. Like Queensland it is largerly political for the upcoming election. Because WA have very relaxed distancing rules and low QR/Sign-in compliance they are actually more vulnerable to community spread should a case escape quarantine. Having never materially tested their track and trace, fear is a factor, fear of losing votes.

WA has a history of not really wanting to be part of Australia even though during mining downturns its GST from NSW and Vic that keep the state funded.

Most of the east coast are still critical of WA's stance, but given summer is the worst time to visit anywhere in WA north of Perth, its a mute point until dry season returns in April which is post election. Operators in Broome, Exmouth etc wont survive a another closed winter tourist season, without international visitors they need the east coast visitors. With partially open borders WA now have to worry about its residents holidaying in other states, whereas over winter they wouldnt let you leave and return easily.

"during mining downturns its GST from NSW and Vic that keep the state funded." I have a lot of doubts about this claim. Since the introduction of GST in 2001 W.A has had two years of receiving back 1.03/1 of GST receipts as "relativity" payments (basically a rounding error for the difference over 1) and one year of receiving a payment figure of 1. Every other year the figure returned has been below 1/1, including years of .35, .37, .38 & .45.

Research

Research

www.aph.gov.au

 

[Lynda2475]

Victoria didn’t receive international flights due Melbourne having COVID-19. It was for the protection of incoming passengers. Melbourne was already suffering badly from the hotel quarantine debacle and would not have been able to quarantine any further arrivals.

No one is questioning why that call was made, it was right in July (although should not be the case now) just stating the fact when others are claiming Vic never had closed borders, in fact it closed to international arrivals (and still is with exception of NZ flights) and also introduced internal borders between Melbourne and Regional Vic and asked NSW to close the state border.

Given Vic hospitals are more than coping now, its time for MEL to start resuming international arrivals and help get those stranded Aussies home.

 

[drron]

Which would be every state except Victoria.

NSW has already shown belief in it's systems over the last few months.

 

[drron]

Most of Australia might think there is no health basis, but the fact the Qld CHO is a doctor and super cautious, makes that a health basis.

It’s not sucking up, it’s taking the time to promote regional NSW tourism.

There is a point that the NSW Premier might come off as too elitist (eg telling others what to do), which can be a turn-off.

All the State CHO/CMOs are doctors and only the QLD CHO has a different opinion.Her public utterances suggest she is out of her depth.Such as The ACT is a hot spot because it is near Bateman's Bay.

 

[RooFlyer]

Surely that title belongs to the only state that didn't shut their borders

I thought about that, but I included NZ Now, whether the Vic Premier's declaration that they weren't in the NZ bubble, or were in it de facto, is a matter of contention. . I'm 'standing by Dan' on this one.

 

[Pushka]

So the issue with the SA woman is whether it is a new infection. ie is it possible to catch Covid twice. When in Victoria she was in quarantine after testing positive in August, then eventually negative and she was in a medi hotel in SA when she tested positive again, 2.5 months later.