Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[kamchatsky]

In the press conference that is on now, AP whinging for job keeper to be extended fpr FNQ, not taking any responsiblity that she was the one who killed domestic tourism over winter and Xmas by premature then prolonged border closures.

I hate that businesses are suffering but I also dont think the Feds should have to bail out bad decisions by the states.

Had domestic borders stayed open more reliably over the last year, it should have been a boon for domestic tourism as no one could go anywhere else. There were millions (if not billions) more that could have been spent holidaying at home, if only Premier's let Aussies in.

Almost choked when one of their ministers mentioned that Sydney has been doing it tough and need a Queensland break - I think they have no idea how open things have been in Sydney and what people are looking for is reliable bookings not more ways to tie up $ waiting for refunds whent he borders close again.

Well regional NSW has been doing fairly well over the break because none of us could go to QLD (and other states). Most people ended up travelling locally, spending money within the state.

But JobKeeper just cannot go forever. 1 year worth of JobKeeper is long enough.

 

[zenyattamondatta]

AP whinging for job keeper to be extended fpr FNQ

She is primarily responsible for me not wanting to go there.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Yes, until we can travel to a state and not be forced into quarantine there for an incident that happened a week before we left, and on return, not have to quarantine for an incident that occurred when away, unless a close contact, then travel interstate is fraught. WA is currently blitzing SA with tourism advertisements. Yeah, not likely. And conversely Vic Govt keeps telling us about their traffic lights. Opposite messages and neither is working to encourage anything.

Isn’t it ironic??? I think almost every State and Territory went the retrospective route and the one that didn’t (eg NSW) had the hotspot. So to avoid retrospectivity, you have to go to the place mostly likely to have a new community case.......but then you don’t want to go there either!!! What a conundrum?!?!

 

[jakeseven7]

Well regional NSW has been doing fairly well over the break because none of us could go to QLD (and other states). Most people ended up travelling locally, spending money within the state.

But JobKeeper just cannot go forever. 1 year worth of JobKeeper is long enough.

I work with suppliers in tourism and hospo.

Yes as a broad gerneralisation, a lot of businesses outside of the major caps did ok over the school holidays and breaks when people just wanted to get away. Do remember though before that it was very quiet so they really had to make some hay while the sun shone! In all the CBD's though its very dire.

Now schools are heading back, people are back to work, this is when international tourism usually fills the gaps....

The occupancy rates are very very low into late Feb / March in most areas, it isn't just FNQ (rubbish time to visit anyway) that are suffering from this, although I'm sure they will be disproportionately impacted due to their reliance on international tourism more than the southern areas of QLD.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

I have no trust in borders after seeing what happened over New Years in Victoria and rules changing even for people in mid-flight in WA. And worse, the retroactive application of "hotspots" and people being forced into quarantine. I won't be spending money on tourism until this possibility is off the table. Last year we did a couple last minute weekend trips a few hour drive from Brisbane but I didn't pay anything until arrival and I was nervous the whole time that Brisbane might become a hotspot.

Even the hotspot thing is unfair. Why is a whole post code punished because one individual or maybe family turns up positive? Lets say for example they live 2 blocks away from me. I don't know them, don't interact with them. What if I was preparing for a trip/event and was at home avoiding being in close proximity with others? My efforts are for nothing! They need some way for people to have control over their lives. Take responsibility for our own actions and not randomly punished for the actions of others.

Re hotspot is unfair

It’s funny to be saying this, but unfortunately we don’t have Big Brother rules so no one can verify you (and everyone else at the same time) were at home keeping away preparing for the trip.

 

[james4321]

In the press conference that is on now, AP whinging for job keeper to be extended fpr FNQ, not taking any responsiblity that she was the one who killed domestic tourism over winter and Xmas by premature then prolonged border closures.

I hate that businesses are suffering but I also dont think the Feds should have to bail out bad decisions by the states.

Had domestic borders stayed open more reliably over the last year, it should have been a boon for domestic tourism as no one could go anywhere else. There were millions (if not billions) more that could have been spent holidaying at home, if only Premier's let Aussies in.

Almost choked when one of their ministers mentioned that Sydney has been doing it tough and need a Queensland break - I think they have no idea how open things have been in Sydney and what people are looking for is reliable bookings not more ways to tie up $ waiting for refunds whent he borders close again.

But its not the domestic tourism operators that are hurting the most, its the ones who rely predominantly on International tourists - and they will need support for probably all of 2021. So rather than just a "whinge" her call is a valid and necessary one in support for those businesses. And of course that is applicable Australia wide not just for QLD.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

The light to minimising border restrictions is clear to everyone is it not?!?!?!

Use the 2 ring method for everyone (NSW might need to get on board) - trust that system and have no borders closed - ever, even for the next hotspot!

Now make sure AFF tells AHPPC what to do!

 

[jakeseven7]

Victoria flags possible eased travel restrictions from tomorrow​

Premier Daniel Andrews has flagged that he will announce a further easing of interstate travel restrictions with NSW tomorrow.

He said they expect to see a “vast majority of the orange zones [in NSW] move green”. A few LGAs in NSW may stay orange, or go to orange from red.

“We’ve having discussions with the Chief Health Officer during the week and are confident tomorrow there will be changes to settings and that will mean much greater freedom of movement,” he said.

He will receive health advice on the issue tonight or early tomorrow and will make an announcement later on Friday.

As it happened: Qld border to reopen to Greater Sydney as Gladys Berejiklian eases NSW restrictions; Australia ranked eighth for COVID-19 response

New research shows Australia is in the top-10 countries in handling the pandemic and disproved a claim authoritarian regimes had an advantage.

www.theage.com.au

 

[lovetravellingoz]

But its not the domestic tourism operators that are hurting the most, its the ones who rely predominantly on International tourists - and they will need support for probably all of 2021. So rather than just a "whinge" her call is a valid and necessary one in support for those businesses. And of course that is applicable Australia wide not just for QLD.

There is a huge disparity in what Covid 19 has meant for individuals and individual businesses.

Some have made more money than ever, some less, and some almost nothing. Many have basically not had much economic impact at all. However others have lost jobs, some their business and some are just limping along. Some are about to go under.

Some have had illness or death in their family unit, or other trauma such as not being able to return to Australia.

For some the pandemic has just been inconvenient such as working from home, having to wear a mask, or not enjoying the luxury of travel for leisure, or not getting to watch sport at the event etc. For others the pandemic has been a most worrying and/or dire time.

 

[jakeseven7]

New South Wales records zero locally acquired cases, testing rates fall again​

NSW has reported no new locally acquired COVID-19 cases for the 11th day in a row. Three new cases were reported in overseas travellers.

Testing however continues to fall with just 7,809 tests were completed in the 24 hours to 8:00pm yesterday.

The last time NSW recorded a daily testing figure over 10,000 was on the weekend, when about 11,000 tests were reported on Saturday and Sunday.

As it happened: Qld border to reopen to Greater Sydney as Gladys Berejiklian eases NSW restrictions; Australia ranked eighth for COVID-19 response

New research shows Australia is in the top-10 countries in handling the pandemic and disproved a claim authoritarian regimes had an advantage.

www.theage.com.au

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Another thought bubble

How many positives cases or close contacts did the border closures/quarantine stop in December / January?

I think the answer is none.

How do you verify this? Review the Victorian and WA exemption applications (and I guess everyone who did domestic quarantine) and see how many were either a positive case or backtracked to be a close contact (or even second ring).

 

[jakeseven7]

There is a huge disparity in what Covid 19 has meant for individuals and individual businesses.

Some have made more money than ever, some less, and some almost nothing. Many have basically not had much economic impact at all. However others have lost jobs, some their business and some are just limping along. Some are about to go under.

Some have had illness or death in their family unit, or other trauma such as not being able to return to Australia.

For some the pandemic has just been inconvenient such as working from home, having to wear a mask, or not enjoying the luxury of travel for leisure, or not getting to watch sport at the event etc. For others the pandemic has been a most worrying and/or dire time.

I think there is this feeling if people see a business still operating / open then they are 'ok'.... especially if they are one of those people who haven't been impacted much, or retirees etc who do not fully comprehend what is actually happening - because a lot is hidden.

Many businesses have drastically cut staff and other costs and remain open, just breaking even or perhaps even still losing money after draining cash reserves through the various lock down periods even with JobKeeper.

You just don't SEE that with your eyes so then people seem to think 'oh its mostly ok then' which is far from the truth.

 

[Tiki]

Re hotspot is unfair

It’s funny to be saying this, but unfortunately we don’t have Big Brother rules so no one can verify you (and everyone else at the same time) were at home keeping away preparing for the trip.

The idea is to avoid becoming a close contact of a case. The contact tracers identify specific people to quarantine based on QR codes, credit card transactions, mobile phone tracing or whatever. If we are at home, we will not be on anyone's close contact list.

 

[jase05]

Missed the first bit of the presser but seems SA is open to all of NSW from Feb 1st with a negative test required on day 1,5 and 12 only for Greater Sydney travellers. Need to only self isolate for day 1 test results

First time since March 24th that SA will have no restrictions on either outbound or inbound travellers

 

[jakeseven7]

Missed the first bit of the presser but seems SA is open to all of NSW from Feb 1st with a negative test required on day 1,5 and 12 only for Greater Sydney travellers. Need to only self isolate for day 1 test results

First time since March 24th that SA will have no restrictions on either outbound or inbound travellers

South Australia eases Sydney border restrictions​

South Australia is changing quarantine requirements for people returning or travelling from Sydney.

People from greater Sydney are currently expected to quarantine if they travel to South Australia, but after 12 days without community transmission in NSW that will be eased.

South Australia’s Health Minister Stephen Wade said as of one minute past midnight the state will allow travellers from greater Sydney to leave quarantine, but they will still need to complete a testing regime on days one, five and 12.

“A negative result [on day one] will be free to move into the community,” Mr Wade said.

“If someone does provide a positive test on day one, their exposure to the community has been dramatically limited so we can wrap that up in a close contact arrangement. We’ll do the contact tracing and minimise the risk to the South Australian community, whilst at the same time allowing people to travel as much as possible.”

As it happened: Qld border to reopen to Greater Sydney as Gladys Berejiklian eases NSW restrictions; Australia ranked eighth for COVID-19 response

New research shows Australia is in the top-10 countries in handling the pandemic and disproved a claim authoritarian regimes had an advantage.

www.theage.com.au

 

[antycbr]

But its not the domestic tourism operators that are hurting the most, its the ones who rely predominantly on International tourists - and they will need support for probably all of 2021. So rather than just a "whinge" her call is a valid and necessary one in support for those businesses. And of course that is applicable Australia wide not just for QLD.

Your assertion is invalid. The international gaps could have been well filled with a captive domestic market of Australians who, prevented from international travel would have substituted domestic travel to Queensland instead of elsewhere but were prevented from doing so by border closures.

There must be no Queensland specific package after what happened in 2020. Scomo would have a riot on his hands from the NSW Members of his party. Any package must require National Cabinet to agree to domestic border closures by consensus. If a state won’t agree then they can’t be eligible for any assistance program.

I expect the Feds to ignore Annastasia.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

There must be no Queensland specific package after what happened in 2020. And any package must require National Cabinet to agree to domestic border closures by consensus. If a state won’t agree then they can’t be eligible for any assistance program.

I expect the Feds to ignore Annastasia.

Consensus is too low a bar.

Consensus suggests even majority might be enough.

Also, I think AHPPC really jumped the gun on these more transmissible variants. Not much spread has happened even with the detection and 2-ring method deployed in Qld (and probably NZ).

I think my suggestion has some merit - trust the 2 ring method (make NSW deploy it) and have all borders open and quarantine free - even for the next hotspot.

Rhethorically - How many cases has borders closures/quarantine stopped in December/January???

 

[NM]

Rhethorically - How many cases has borders closures/quarantine stopped in December/January???

The obvious answer is 100% of the cases that would have got through if border closures/quarantine were not in place

 

[Lynda2475]

its the ones who rely predominantly on International tourists - and they will need support for probably all of 2021

With people stuck inside Australia thre was a perfect opportunity to fill a good portion of the gap with Aussies who woud normally spend their holiday bugets overseas, but by locking out domestic tourists in peak time AP did FNQ (and rest of Qld) no favours, infact actively damaged the economy.

There was always going to be some gap due to lack of foreigners, but the impact did not have to beanywhere near as huge as it has been, if AP welcomed NSW instead of acting like Covid was running rampant through the state which it has never done.

I do not support Commonwealth bailing out businesses who have suffered because of the poor decision making of state Premiers - if the state severly limited trade by restricting domestic movements, then the state should provide relief, not tax payers from other states who were prevented from spending their tourism dollars there.

Qld already gets propped up with GST paid in NSW, Vic and WA - the reason things are so dire is entirely on their government being quick to close borders, closing to too large an area (whole state and or greater Sydney instead of specific LGAs) and then being super slow to relax restrictions when thoings were contained - they created the uncertainty and Ballina/Byron have benefited from this all year.

 

[Lynda2475]

First time since March 24th that SA will have no restrictions on either outbound or inbound travellers

But the need to test and isolate until a result is given is a restriction, and prevents short/same day business travel.