Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[HappyFlyerFamily]

I'm disagreeing with your point that National Cabinet may have misconstrued the role. It's like this because there's no alternative. It uses both federal and state resources and the bulk of the effort is in the state's jurisdiction, hence why ALL parties agreed then that the states would lead. The states did not bring in international quarantine as you suggested, it was agreed by all parties to be this way.

The argument like whether federal vs unitary would be better is moot, unitary would only be viable if there were no states, and not having states is a whole other unrelated argument.

Ok, then lets discuss the toss about a subpoint.

My point about miscontrued is that quarantine is not just health care (eg doctors and nurses). Quarantine involves a whole range of non-health care functions /stress points eg security, transport, police. So when the National Cabinet decided that States and Territories are responsible for the management of hotel quarantine given their primary responsibility in delivering health care. National Cabinet (meaning more specifically the States and Territories) doesn't seem to have taken into account the significant non-health care aspects/requirements.

You say there is no alternative. Well this is not entirely true. A possible practical alternative include a hybrid model - say for example the Federal Government could have managed/operated the various capital city hotels now used, security, transport and minimal health care (the ADF itself has almost 1000 medical personnel available) and States/Territories could take over and look after health (eg when a patient gets taken out of quarantine and moved into hospitals). Under a hybrid method, a National standard of international quarantine could have been established instead of up to 8 standards of international quarantine.

And don't forget the first option used was Christmas Island and we now have Howard Springs.

You say the unitary v federal discussion is moot and isn't that what I'm saying also in a different way in my response to an earlier comment that our current (federal) system has brought about a ridiculous outcome and later the same commenter added that the most effective decision was the shutting of international borders. Well guess what the shutting of international borders comprises - travel ban and quarantine (and caps). The Federal Government only made the travel ban decision. National Cabinet decided States run quarantine. Since States run quarantine - guess who has the ultimate say on caps...

 

[justinbrett]

Ok, then lets discuss the toss about a subpoint.

My point about miscontrued is that quarantine is not just health care (eg doctors and nurses). Quarantine involves a whole range of non-health care functions /stress points eg security, transport, police. So when the National Cabinet decided that States and Territories are responsible for the management of hotel quarantine given their primary responsibility in delivering health care. National Cabinet (meaning more specifically the States and Territories) doesn't seem to have taken into account the significant non-health care aspects/requirements.

I think you’re really insulting their intelligence, of course they knew it was more than health care. In fact health care is a very small part of the program. The federal government does not have the manpower to do the task and this was acknowledged, so the ADF would supplement the state police forces and other services.

You say there is no alternative. Well this is not entirely true. A possible practical alternative include a hybrid model - say for example the Federal Government could have managed/operated the various capital city hotels now used, security, transport and minimal health care (the ADF itself has almost 1000 medical personnel available) and States/Territories could take over and look after health (eg when a patient gets taken out of quarantine and moved into hospitals). Under a hybrid method, a National standard of international quarantine could have been established instead of up to 8 standards of international quarantine.

And don't forget the first option used was Christmas Island and we now have Howard Springs.

Refer to my earlier post. No state government wants the federal government to run quarantine in its capital city. Where pray tell would they get all these people to run it even if they did? The states have far more people on the ground like their police who are more suited to run it. The feds would have to get contractors and we know how that movie ends. The ADF are helping but aren’t an infinite resource.

Howard Springs is a joint effort between the NT government and the federal government. Christmas island isn’t very suitable- it doesn’t have the health facilities, it’s accomodation uses shared facilities and its runway isn’t suitable for wide bodies - meaning the Air Force or a contracted airline would have to ferry them from the mainland, increasing the risk of transmission.

The benifits of having multiple states means you can see different examples of what works well (NSW) vs what doesn’t (VIC) and the lessons can be learnt and shared throughout. If you had one cookie cutter system run from Canberra, this would not be as effective. At the end of the day, the reason why it’s better for Brisbane’s quarantine to be the responsibility of someone whose office is in Brisbane not Canberra is the very reason we have states in the first place. There’s a balance though so that’s why it’s a joint effort, the states cant just go rogue.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Let’s see how today unfolds


There are growing fears Brisbane's snap three-day lockdown could extend further due to a telling line on the health department's website.

Previously, the website stated that the lockdown would come to an end on Thursday at 5pm.

However, on Wednesday night, it had been quietly amended.

“Testing and respiratory clinics will not require a GP referral for the duration of the greater Brisbane lockdown- 5pm AEST Monday 29 March to 11:59pm AEST Tuesday 6 April,” it now reads.

It comes after Queensland recorded three new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, with two of those acquired through local transmission.

...courtesy of news.com.au

 

[Must...Fly!]

Am I missing something? Do testing sites in Queensland still require a GP referral? (Aside from the next few days)

 

[Pushka]

Am I missing something? Do testing sites in Queensland still require a GP referral? (Aside from the next few days)

I saw that too and thought I must have read that wrong. Surely not!

 

[Tiki]

Let’s see how today unfolds


There are growing fears Brisbane's snap three-day lockdown could extend further due to a telling line on the health department's website.

Previously, the website stated that the lockdown would come to an end on Thursday at 5pm.

However, on Wednesday night, it had been quietly amended.

“Testing and respiratory clinics will not require a GP referral for the duration of the greater Brisbane lockdown- 5pm AEST Monday 29 March to 11:59pm AEST Tuesday 6 April,” it now reads.

It comes after Queensland recorded three new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, with two of those acquired through local transmission.

...courtesy of news.com.au

I interpreted that to be due to the Easter long weekend, GP practices would be closed and unable to provide referrals. Unrelated to the lockdown. But requiring a referral is stupid in any case given that they want to encourage people to be tested.

 

[clarkkent]

Am I missing something? Do testing sites in Queensland still require a GP referral? (Aside from the next few days)

Nope haven't needed a referral for a long time now (at the public clinics at least).

 

[hydrabyss]

NSW Premier gives green light for Easter long weekend travel

Unlike other states and politicians for that matter I somehow feel confident she won't change her mind.

Although I did cancel my Cairns trip last night and instead will drive to Bathurst so avoid any potential issues with travelling interstate at the moment.

 

[MooTime]

When we were in GoldCoast in early Jan while the Bris last mini outbreak occurred, I researched local testing sites, where to get tested if need be etc & all mentioned need GP referral. I thought how onerous & silly.

Now maybe some public ones not GP req'd, but I didn't come across them or any close by.

Hellova lot easier getting & finding a testing station here in Melbourne, nearly easier than finding the golden arches!

 

[jonboixxx]

Woohoo, off to GC for 4 days. Common sense has prevailed.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Good news. Hopefully the other states modify their travel/test/isolate settings accordingly.

Also the continued announcement of a headline number including hotel quarantine cases is extremely annoying. Who cares what is in quarantine - that's literally the point of it's existence, it should be irrelevant to the general populace if one or one hundred are positive.

 

[justinbrett]

My flight leaves to Brisbane in 4 hours, gamble paid off!

 

[Jenya]

Hopefully WA will calm down to low risk tier for QLD arrivals in coming days

 

[Must...Fly!]

I was asked to submit papers and identity documents proving my identity and residency as part of my G2G application

I can understand the comparison in some ways

 

[Jenya]

I was asked to submit papers and identity documents proving my identity and residency as part of my G2G application
I can understand the comparison in some ways

​

Its not only that, even official letter from company proving essential for WA employment role was not enough for them. Company had to apply for special exemption to the State Emergency Coordinator. How pathetic.
Kudos to admins for taking down MooTime's direct insult above.

 

[Lynda2475]

No new NSW cases except the one Byron case announced yesterday.

Many in Byron will be disappointed with Blues Fest cancellation given Brisbane fully reopens in an hour or so with only mask guidelines.

WRT Queenslanders in NSW:

NSW has been mirroring the Queensland Health restrictions for anyone in NSW who has been to Greater Brisbane since 20 March, and these people will also no longer be required to stay at home from this time (1pm local time).

 

[justinbrett]

Sitting at Newcastle airport and less than half the pax have masks on. Bit weird after coming from Launceston where they expect you to wear one in the carpark, although only enforced in the terminal.
NTL is a direct BNE flight and I can see JQ484 starting to queue.

I was going to call you a liar as I fly through NTL regularly and it’s usually near 100% compliance.

Alas today it’s less than 25%, I asked security and they said masks are no longer mandatory within the airport. Several security workers weren’t wearing them (most were).

They slipped this change in silently. It’s definitely deliberate, I remember exactly where the “masks are mandatory in our airport” signs were and they’re gone.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I was going to call you a liar as I fly through NTL regularly and it’s usually near 100% compliance.

Alas today it’s less than 25%, I asked security and they said masks are no longer mandatory within the airport. Several security workers weren’t wearing them (most were).

They slipped this change in silently. It’s definitely deliberate, I remember exactly where the “masks are mandatory in our airport” signs were and they’re gone.

And the change is a direct breach of the health regulations.
Probably worthwhile tweeting this to Newcastle Airport.

Face Mask Rules NSW Health

 

[justinbrett]

And the change is a direct breach of the health regulations.
Probably worthwhile tweeting this to Newcastle Airport.

Face Mask Rules NSW Health

The sign was replaced with a “we have a COVID-19 safety plan” with NSW logo on the bottom right. It mentions the 1.5m rule, washing hands but no masks.

Perhaps they got an exemption. It’s a smal airport that’s not really used for connecting.

 

[Must...Fly!]

What exemption?

https://gazette.legislation.nsw.gov.au/so/download.w3p?id=Gazette_2021_2021-130.pdf

They are in direct breach of the directive from the minister?