Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[kyle]

These are things that might be a bridge to far for Australians, which is I assume why a national track and trace system has not been developed.

Perhaps if there's legislation guaranteeing the collected data can never ever be used in any criminal or civil case, then maybe more buy in.

 

[kyle]

Well today I was finally able to use the Check in Tas app for the first time.certainly makes it easy.

But did witness an incident leaving the hospital today which does illustrate the problem.
All visitors to Tasmanian hospitals need to reply to a questionnaire when entering.Today 2 of those questions were-have you met anyone from NSW in the last 14 days.The second is have you been in NSW in the last 14 days.
The person coming in answered no to the first question but yes to the second question but said they had come from Bathurst.Fortunately those asking the questions have some training so the person was asked so how did you get to Tasmania-we flew.Which airport did you fly from-Sydney.how did you get to Sydney from Bathurst.We drove straight to the airport.Do you have any proof of that-No.
Well you can't enter now as I am referring this on to our administration.Please wait outside.
When I go back tomorrow I will pass on a "well done."

I don't get the need for the first question.

 

[drron]

I don't get the need for the first question.

Because you may have met someone from NSW such as child or grandkids who had arrived from NSW earlier this month in the officially declared problem period for Tasmania.

 

[kyle]

Because you may have met someone from NSW such as child or grandkids who had arrived from NSW earlier this month in the officially declared problem period for Tasmania.

I was thinking along the lines of, if the 2nd question is yes, then first question must be a yes because if you've been in NSW then obviously you've met someone from NSW.

 

[drron]

But you don't have to have been in NSW to meet someone from NSW.

 

[antycbr]

But you don't have to have been in NSW to meet someone from NSW.

So I assume though if you are in need of medical care the staff will still assist but in PPE? Is this visitors only?

 

[Anna]

I borrowed a library book yesterday and when I got it home a boarding pass fell out from a QF flight from Sydney last week (Complete with 7 digit QFF number commencing 02 so a QFF long term member )

And before the usual peanuts pile on to explain why I shouldn't have posted, this is the same library that when it reopened in June after lockdown and we were able to return books after weeks of not being allowed to, all the books had to be put in a special return chute where they then sat for a week before the staff were allowed to touch them and process them. So either they overreacted then, or else they're not taking enough care now. (I hope the former).

 

[Pushka]

I borrowed a library book yesterday and when I got it home a boarding pass fell out from a QF flight from Sydney last week (Complete with 7 digit QFF number commencing 02 so a QFF long term member )

And before the usual peanuts pile on to explain why I shouldn't have posted, this is the same library that when it reopened in June after lockdown and we were able to return books after weeks of not being allowed to, all the books had to be put in a special return chute where they then sat for a week before the staff were allowed to touch them and process them. So either they overreacted then, or else they're not taking enough care now. (I hope the former).

It is rather disturbing especially if they've just had a beach holiday at Manly.

@Milboo - are you saying you can't just pop in, walk in for a Covid test in Brisbane. We did away with GP referrals months ago. And have drive-in and walk in clinics all over Adelaide and the State.

 

[jb747]

Well, having gone through months of border closure from the NSW side, Albury/Wodonga is now seeing it done by VicPol. At the moment the queue are so long that you’ll effectively be able to sit out the quarantine whilst immobile on the freeway.

They had months to consider how this could be done. Someone even decided that locals don’t need permits. But, the practical application is so poor that it would seem that going to Albury is not really a viable option.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Well, having gone through months of border closure from the NSW side, Albury/Wodonga is now seeing it done by VicPol. At the moment the queue are so long that you’ll effectively be able to sit out the quarantine whilst immobile on the freeway.

They had months to consider how this could be done. Someone even decided that locals don’t need permits. But, the practical application is so poor that it would seem that going to Albury is not really a viable option.

Premier Andrews lashed the ADF yesterday for not providing his requested 2-300 members to help perform his own unilaterally enforced policy. He is blaming them for the lack of staff at the border and delays in setting up the checkpoint (which the LGA Mayor claims was a "free for all for 24 hours"). Victoria Police warned that single member stations in the area would have to close for general policing and emergency response if they were drafted to the border.

Well done to the ADF. I'm sick of Commonwealth resources being demanded by state governments who aren't playing the national game. If you want to implement a policy whereby you cut off a state at the land border, then be prepared with the resources and funding required to support whatever logistical program you need to make that policy work. Otherwise, keep your actions in check with your resources and responsibilities and take a good look in the mirror as to the role you actually perform in modern-day Australian politics.

Yes I'm angry today, because I have further read the findings of the HQ report and I am incredibly sad at the human toll it has exacted on the wider community in Victoria, but in Melbourne particularly. And the government who was in charge, and it's leader (who the buck stops with, according to him) has effectively washed it's hands of any responsibility. The greatest public policy failure in the Victorian government history, so say the rather useless Liberal opposition. Useless they may be, but I'm very inclined to agree with them on this occasion.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Premier Andrews lashed the ADF yesterday for not providing his requested 2-300 members to help perform his own unilaterally enforced policy. He is blaming them for the lack of staff at the border and delays in setting up the checkpoint (which the LGA Mayor claims was a "free for all for 24 hours"). Victoria Police warned that single member stations in the area would have to close for general policing and emergency response if they were drafted to the border.

Well done to the ADF. I'm sick of Commonwealth resources being demanded by state governments who aren't playing the national game. If you want to implement a policy whereby you cut off a state at the land border, then be prepared with the resources and funding required to support whatever logistical program you need to make that policy work. Otherwise, keep your actions in check with your resources and responsibilities and take a good look in the mirror as to the role you actually perform in modern-day Australian politics.

Yes I'm angry today, because I have further read the findings of the HQ report and I am incredibly sad at the human toll it has exacted on the wider community in Victoria, but in Melbourne particularly. And the government who was in charge, and it's leader (who the buck stops with, according to him) has effectively washed it's hands of any responsibility. The greatest public policy failure in the Victorian government history, so say the rather useless Liberal opposition. Useless they may be, but I'm very inclined to agree with them on this occasion.

I feel differently. The middle of a pandemic is not necessarily the time to be politicising use of resources. The premier gets criticised for not using ADF, now gets criticised for requesting them? Victorians are taxpayers. The ADF is a national resource.

Having the ADF will potentially speed up the flow across the border. The alternative will be longer queues, or closing the border outright?

Perhaps the opposition parties should put some of their efforts into the state response. Very easy to be critical, but imagine the outcomes if they had decided to work bipartisanly?

 

[Must...Fly!]

I feel differently. The middle of a pandemic is not necessarily the time to be politicising use of resources. The premier gets criticised for not using ADF, now gets criticised for requesting them? Victorians are taxpayers. The ADF is a national resource.

Having the ADF will potentially speed up the flow across the border. The alternative will be longer queues, or closing the border outright?

Perhaps the opposition parties should put some of their efforts into the state response. Very easy to be critical, but imagine the outcomes if they had decided to work bipartisanly?

I would say that it has little to do with opposition, and more to do with individual state governments differing on their goals for COVID-19. This is a case where the whole is only as strong as the weakest link in the chain. WA (in particular) and QLD have and continue to demand elimination of COVID-19 for travel. Thus the others, who may harbour more realistic views of how to approach borders within the nation, by necessity must be virus free less they become pariahs themselves, in another way.

It's crazy, and points to yet another disappointing and sad failing of Australian government. Primarily fuelled, as I've said here before, by the failure of the constitution to any longer accurately reflect the funding and responsibilities of the federal and state governments respectively.

 

[Milboo]

It is rather disturbing especially if they've just had a beach holiday at Manly.

@Milboo - are you saying you can't just pop in, walk in for a Covid test in Brisbane. We did away with GP referrals months ago. And have drive-in and walk in clinics all over Adelaide and the State.

I’m outside of Brisbane - and yes, there are no walk in clinics around.

 

[antycbr]

Last time I checked the ADF have actual jobs that involve defending the country. There are ADF resources assisting in the Pacific and ongoing peacekeeping.

Our defence force is a shade under 60K plus another 20K reserves. Many of these are based on ships or in the north of Australia. It’s not realistic to shut down RAAF maintenance or have pilots standing on the side of the Hume Freeway. We still need to do maritime patrols of our EEZ area. Counter terrorism training and defence intelligence continues.

It’s not an endless resource and I believe close to 2,000 are assigned to states for Covid assist already.

 

[Pushka]

Last time I checked the ADF have actual jobs that involve defending the country. There are ADF resources assisting in the Pacific and ongoing peacekeeping.

Our defence force is a shade under 60K plus another 20K reserves. Many of these are based on ships or in the north of Australia. It’s not realistic to shut down RAAF maintenance or have pilots standing on the side of the Hume Freeway. We still need to do maritime patrols of our EEZ area. Counter terrorism training and defence intelligence continues.

It’s not an endless resource and I believe close to 2,000 are assigned to states for Covid assist already.

My nephew in Air Force just returned from 3 months Covid service in Perth.

 

[I love to travel]

Brad Hazzard encouraged by numbers whatever that means

 

[blackcat20]

Well today I was finally able to use the Check in Tas app for the first time.certainly makes it easy.

But did witness an incident leaving the hospital today which does illustrate the problem.
All visitors to Tasmanian hospitals need to reply to a questionnaire when entering.Today 2 of those questions were-have you met anyone from NSW in the last 14 days.The second is have you been in NSW in the last 14 days.
The person coming in answered no to the first question but yes to the second question but said they had come from Bathurst.Fortunately those asking the questions have some training so the person was asked so how did you get to Tasmania-we flew.Which airport did you fly from-Sydney.how did you get to Sydney from Bathurst.We drove straight to the airport.Do you have any proof of that-No.
Well you can't enter now as I am referring this on to our administration.Please wait outside.
When I go back tomorrow I will pass on a "well done."

Our screening questions this morning included "have you been in NSW in the last 14 days". My answer is yes, however not in the "danger zones". Fortunately they have a list and Kingscliff isnt on it.

 

[andye]

I borrowed a library book yesterday and when I got it home a boarding pass fell out from a QF flight from Sydney last week (Complete with 7 digit QFF number commencing 02 so a QFF long term member )

And before the usual peanuts pile on to explain why I shouldn't have posted, this is the same library that when it reopened in June after lockdown and we were able to return books after weeks of not being allowed to, all the books had to be put in a special return chute where they then sat for a week before the staff were allowed to touch them and process them. So either they overreacted then, or else they're not taking enough care now. (I hope the former).

Realise its not the sole issue, but my understanding was that the virus can survive only 24 hours or so on paper

 

[Must...Fly!]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1341140709013860352

https://twitter.com/x/status/1341141016682741760

 

[Pushka]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1341140709013860352

https://twitter.com/x/status/1341141016682741760

So will NSW include this in their figures? Good that they were tested and hopefully the only one.