Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[nutwood]

Slightly amazing! I was talking to a business owner in Queensland who had ten workers in NSW when the wall went up. He had to pay wages for ten people to sit in a hotel, plus $28k in charges. They'd been in regional NSW and the risk was very small.
Why is it not possible for a senator to do her job in a public hotel? Possibly inconvenient but it's not that different to an office. Can't have meetings but one would hope that after returning from overseas, meetings are off the to-do list!

 

[Pushka]

This is from the SMH - Marise Payne strongly suggests India flights to Australia will resume after fierce backlash

Senator Payne, who was the second minister to be fully vaccinated and is just one of just 2.4 million Australians to have been jabbed and flew to Europe on the taxpayer-funded VIP plane, has applied to bypass the $3000 hotel quarantine required of ordinary Australians entering the country.

“It is not possible for me to do my job in a public hotel and on that basis I have sought to make an application and it will be a matter for the NSW government,” she said.

My bolding. Most of us can say the same thing. Why doesn't she conform and set an example? She is coming from a high-risk environment with some of the Indian delegation already testing positive.

Just wondering why she isn't considered a close contact actually.

 

[Lynda2475]

Just wondering why she isn't considered a close contact actually

Evidently the meeting she attended on day the Indian delegation were on zoom, so she wasn't in the same room. But they had met with others in person.

But yes politicians (and diplomats), celebrities and sports brats should all have to follow the same HQ process as joe average.

 

[Lynda2475]

The WA Government said Perth hotel workers must be fully vaccinated by Monday — now it's backed down

Hotel quarantine workers who have not had their second COVID-19 vaccine will be allowed to continue working on WA's "frontline", despite a ban on unvaccinated workers coming into effect on Monday.

www.abc.net.au

 

[bcworld]

I would assume that the minister would claim that she couldn't have sensitive conversations within the hotel room on the basis that they might be overheard.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

NSW recorded no new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night

. Five new cases were acquired overseas to 8pm last night, bringing the total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 5,332.

11:06 AM · May 7, 2021·Twitter Web App

 

[lovetravellingoz]

While zero cases is on the one hand a good thing, on the other hand as one now assumes that all HQ workers within the exposure period should have been tested as a priority and had their test back by now that means we still do not know via what person how the transmission chain passed through from the traveller (may not have been a HQ worker) which means that unfortunately that they cannot be isolating and testing people from both ends of the transmission chain yet.

Though the official figures are only to 8PM. But still there should have been time by then to have completed priority tests.

 

[Lynda2475]

And we thought Queensland were late tot he party. Such a simple thing.

From ABC:

Victorian businesses will need to adopt stat government's QR code​

All Victorian businesses will soon need to adopt the government's QR code service, after a recent survey showed less than half of patrons were checking in.

From May the 28, all venues will need to use the government's official QR code system through the Service Victoria app.

Only weeks ago, the government had beefed up the state's QR code compliance rules, making it mandatory for businesses to use either the government's system or any compatible contact tracing system.

But a recent survey shows, just 41 per cent of patrons have been checking into restaurants every time.

Meanwhile, density limits will also be lifted for businesses by the end of this month.

Under the new rules, venues can have up to 200 people per room — provided the space is smaller than 400 square metres, and COVID marshals ensure people are checking in.

 

[NM]

I would assume that the minister would claim that she couldn't have sensitive conversations within the hotel room on the basis that they might be overheard.

But she can work from a hotel room in another country when traveling ...

Maybe she can request a Cone of Silence to be installed?

 

[drron]

Even having a mandatory State QR system doesn't make it effective.WA-I was usually the only one checking in.Most walked straight past and to their table.
QLD similiar.
Tasmania was good but going to 6 restaurants on this visit so far only 2 have told me to check in,3 I have checked in but note many others do not and 1 didn't even have the Tassie QR code on display.
NSW was much better but still a lot of patrons not doing the right thing.

 

[Lynda2475]

Even having a mandatory State QR system doesn't make it effective

Whilst it doesn't force people to check it, a single app where government contract tracers have direct access to the data does make contacting those who did the right thing and did check in much much faster. NSW has the ability SMS anyone who checked in via the app as soon as they are notified of a positive case at a venue.

Prior to having a single app, many venues were struggling to provide check in data to contract tracers in a timely fashion, and there was a higher instance of fake names and numbers. But registering for state app, they at a minimum have to validate that mobile number, and as data is government held not venue held more likely to get a real number.

The second component is auditing usage.

Gladys noted they are doing spot compliance audits.

When there is a case that has visited a venue they compare the check-ins against credit cards (and presumably sales data for cash) - so they know if there is good compliance or not. In this mornings update they noted one of the new restaurants in the current cluster had poor check-in data. I see a fine coming the way of that restaurant.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Even having a mandatory State QR system doesn't make it effective.WA-I was usually the only one checking in.Most walked straight past and to their table.
QLD similiar.
Tasmania was good but going to 6 restaurants on this visit so far only 2 have told me to check in,3 I have checked in but note many others do not and 1 didn't even have the Tassie QR code on display.
NSW was much better but still a lot of patrons not doing the right thing.

Or at least one of the cafes on the current NSW exposure list where compliance was very poor.

One of the talking heads on the news today reported that compliance was well down in NSW. 25% over the last month or so was their quoted figure.

Most venues in Vic that I frequent use QR Codes and have done so sine mid last year. And while most instruct one to scan, not all then check that it has been done. So more and more it is up to the patron.

 

[Seat0B]

Slightly amazing! I was talking to a business owner in Queensland who had ten workers in NSW when the wall went up. He had to pay wages for ten people to sit in a hotel, plus $28k in charges. They'd been in regional NSW and the risk was very small.
Why is it not possible for a senator to do her job in a public hotel? Possibly inconvenient but it's not that different to an office. Can't have meetings but one would hope that after returning from overseas, meetings are off the to-do list!

Just everything in your post is appalling, really. That poor business owner. Many businesses would not be able to sustain the outlay for HQ as well as wages for people to basically do not much in HQ.
And the Senator is just another example of an entitled person who does not have to go through what the little people do - and so is not really in a position to be making decisions that affect the little people. Another example of how money and power talk.

 

[suze2000]

I would assume that the minister would claim that she couldn't have sensitive conversations within the hotel room on the basis that they might be overheard.

So don't have them. Delegate. That's why they have deputies. Who was doing all that while she was OS?

 

[MooTime]

To think that senior pollies should go to general public HQ is ludicrous.

They certainly are in a privileged position, elected by either us or the gov to govern the country.
For goodness sake they need to be in an environment to undertake their role properly, not some shoebox sized, poor wifi, air/con fiddled with, no balcony & whatever else.

We may not trust them (certainly not most of them) & agree with all what they do, but they should not be in general HQ.
Scomo did his quarantine at home, what some expect him to sit in general HQ? FFS.

Sportspeople are a different kettle of fish, they make me sick!!

 

[Seat0B]

For goodness sake they need to be in an environment to undertake their role properly, not some shoebox sized, poor wifi, air/con fiddled with, no balcony & whatever else.

But this is where we differ - I don't think that it is acceptable for anyone to be expected to undertake their role in a "shoe-box sized, poor wifi, aircon fiddled with, no balcony" hotel room - or certainly not after well over a year. At first, maybe, but now, absolutely not at all. And especially since it has become evident that going into HQ is itself a risk that you will catch COVID from other guests when you did not have it yourself initially.

Scomo did his quarantine at home, what some expect him to sit in general HQ? FFS.

...an option not made available to mere mortals, only to politicians and celebrities and sports people. They want us to act like we are all in it together and to take one for the team (eg vaccinate when there is no real personal benefit or need), but they themselves are above it all, jumping queues and getting special treatment at every turn. If it's good enough for Scomo to home quarantine, then it is good enough for me to - oh wait not applicable as I would not even be permitted to leave the country.

Animal Farm does not even come close to the blatant self-serving inequity of these "special rules" for the elite.

 

[suze2000]

To think that senior pollies should go to general public HQ is ludicrous.

Rubbish. If they are willing to inflict it on the public (and I am in total agreement that quarantine is required), then they should do their time in the same manner as the rest of us.

 

[dajop]

Rubbish. If they are willing to inflict it on the public (and I am in total agreement that quarantine is required), then they should do their time in the same manner as the rest of us.

Agreed

Although I think we all know if any senior politician who does HQ at one of the quarantine hotels will NOT be doing it in a standard room. Most of these hotels have large suites, which I am sure could be made available for use, and not an ordinary “shoebox”. But even I a large presidential suite, it would still send a message that they’re with the rest of us.

 

[MooTime]

And that's why I enjoy reading AFF. Solid dose of well informed varying views.

I just think there's an element of elitism here though. Shiny Gold & Platinum cards in many man-bags or purses!

On that note I'm off to my 1st AFL game tonight in 2 years, in a catered box, gotta love elitism, haha!

Have an ace weekend all.

 

[jonboixxx]

And that's why I enjoy reading AFF. Solid dose of well informed varying views.

A live epistemological study; echo-chamber much? A big tub of popcorn is essential.
I must also be elite enough to actually watch the Senate Select Committee on COVID-19 this afternoon; enlightening and full of actual information.
Enjoy your game