Australian state border restrictions

[Princess Fiona]

This one is just heartless. Not good enough Queensland. This child lives with autism and has survived cancer and needs follow up appointments. Sending her to Sydney is complex, risky and inappropriate.

Child cancer survivor denied 'crucial' check-ups in Brisbane

To be fair to QLD Health I can see why they would postpone that follow up appointment and have it at a later date when the borders are opened.
I don’t think they are at all suggesting her surveillance appointment/ MRI be moved to Sydney.

 

[bernardblack]

“ WA premier Mark McGowan says the state won’t be opening itself up to the rest of the country if WA is still Covid-19 free when it reaches the 70 per cent vaccination threshold.” - The Australian newsfeed

They’re also benevolently donating masks to NSW… don’t know if NSW needs them? If we are still chasing PPE in August 2021 something has gone wrong,

Luckily for him, he's not bound by that since WA is not going to stay COVID-free.

 

[jase05]

Luckily for him, he's not bound by that since WA is not going to stay COVID-free.

They are hosting the AFL Grand Final in 3-4 weeks time with a full house of close to 60k expected. He will be doing everything to keep it out until then

 

[Must...Fly!]

They are hosting the AFL Grand Final in 3-4 weeks time with a full house of close to 60k expected. He will be doing everything to keep it out until then

If it has to come to WA, then I would personally prefer it to be prior to the Grand Final. I see no reason to reward such a callous and unsympathetic policy approach with an event of that magnitude. Countless family events and funerals have been missed. There are stories of people saying goodbye to their parents over a webcam. Those experiences as a direct result of the decisions by the government in WA shouldn't be ignored and a footy game allowed to go ahead.

I have often wondered what would happen if one of Mr McGowan's parents were to be taken ill - they live in NSW.

 

[Lynda2475]

I have often wondered what would happen if one of Mr McGowan's parents were to be taken ill - they live in NSW.

He would approve an exemption for himself to travel. Footy players and politicians get special treatmemt wrt to travel, as has been evidenced repeatedly since the start of the pandemic.

 

[Lynda2475]

Not sure if this has been posted anywhere else, but WA look set to lose direct QF LHR flights to DRW if McGowan doesnt open up when everyone else does.

‘Outrageous’: Backlash over Qantas flight plan

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has hit back at a suggestion by Qantas that Perth may lose its status as a transit hub for flights to London due to WA’s notoriously strict border rules.

www.news.com.au

 

[Pushka]

If it has to come to WA, then I would personally prefer it to be prior to the Grand Final. I see no reason to reward such a callous and unsympathetic policy approach with an event of that magnitude. Countless family events and funerals have been missed. There are stories of people saying goodbye to their parents over a webcam. Those experiences as a direct result of the decisions by the government in WA shouldn't be ignored and a footy game allowed to go ahead.

I have often wondered what would happen if one of Mr McGowan's parents were to be taken ill - they live in NSW.

Many AFL officials are already ensconced in Perth in quarantine because, well, under extreme compassion exemption

 

[MARTINE]

If it has to come to WA, then I would personally prefer it to be prior to the Grand Final. I see no reason to reward such a callous and unsympathetic policy approach with an event of that magnitude. Countless family events and funerals have been missed. There are stories of people saying goodbye to their parents over a webcam. Those experiences as a direct result of the decisions by the government in WA shouldn't be ignored and a footy game allowed to go ahead.

I have often wondered what would happen if one of Mr McGowan's parents were to be taken ill - they live in NSW.

Excellent summation re:rewarding poor behavior. (Won’t speak to the parents issue).
If MMG used the grand final as a MANDATE to spruik getting everyone who can in WA getting vaccinated (I am presuming this is a condition of entry for attendees) there may be some benefit. This should have come as pre-condition for the event - border control alone is a very low order ineffective successful pandemic strategy.
Yet another wasted public health opportunity..

 

[drron]

And just what would happen if a Sydney team gets to the Grand Final.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

And just what would happen if a Sydney team gets to the Grand Final.

Barracking for Port??? Hob-nob with the Port Adelaide president???

From a covid perspective my impression is the players are in a bubble.

 

[jase05]

And just what would happen if a Sydney team gets to the Grand Final.

Both Sydney teams are currently playing in Launceston today and will play in Adelaide, Perth or Brisbane next week and/or the week after.
No issues at all for them currently

 

[antycbr]

Both Sydney teams are currently playing in Launceston today and will play in Adelaide, Perth or Brisbane next week and/or the week after.
No issues at all for them currently

Amazing when you have a football you can do whatever you want.

 

[mviy]

Not sure if this has been posted anywhere else, but WA look set to lose direct QF LHR flights to DRW if McGowan doesnt open up when everyone else does.

‘Outrageous’: Backlash over Qantas flight plan

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has hit back at a suggestion by Qantas that Perth may lose its status as a transit hub for flights to London due to WA’s notoriously strict border rules.

www.news.com.au

It has been mentioned. The NT News even did an outstanding headline about it on their Front Page.

 

[jase05]

Amazing when you have a football you can do whatever you want.

Tasmanian government is paying $1m to the AFL for the rights to finals this weekend

 

[MARTINE]

Tasmanian government is paying $1m to the AFL for the rights to finals this weekend

As someone who despite living in Melb does not watch football I went onto the AFL site out of interest to review what is documented about Covid

I found:
- range of topics re safety/tipping/diversity/reconciliation and lastly AFL Women (and it was not alph order) but none specific to Covid (all fine)
- I had to search for Covid specifically to find anything ..and last topics about how disruptive it was/keeping players safe in hubs etc
- AFL policies covered (appropriately) safety for children, mental health wellbeing and diversity
- latest news results/injuries/drafts/women in football (all fine)

… found it interesting there was no specific Covid related information, dedicated site on page especially given the huge social/financial impacts , accomodations made for - and opportunity to message - by the AFL
… just an observation not a criticism…

 

[Seat0B]

To be fair to QLD Health I can see why they would postpone that follow up appointment and have it at a later date when the borders are opened.
I don’t think they are at all suggesting her surveillance appointment/ MRI be moved to Sydney.

I read the story differently. The mother is quoted as saying the following:

“She said trying to move her daughter's treatment to a Sydney hospital would be extremely challenging and dangerous on a number of levels.” And
“We have our family based on the Gold Coast and we don't really have the means to afford accommodation in Sydney as this will be a regular thing.”

 

[Flashback]

Those were the days…..
View attachment 256633

I went to south Wales recently. It was nice. The new, south Wales, seems rather coughe in comparison.

 

[Scarlett]

No Premier should ever cede border territory without consulting the electorate. Even then who knows how that could work constitutionally.

Why?
State borders have been completely irrelevant for the past century. Like State government.
Who cares where an anachronistic line was drawn when internal to Australia.

If the adults were really in charge and this is an administrative health matter then just change the 'border' and tidy up the administrative details like police authority. The border community in question is already a fully integrated community in every respect.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Why?
State borders have been completely irrelevant for the past century. Like State government.
Who cares where an anachronistic line was drawn when internal to Australia.

If the adults were really in charge and this is an administrative health matter then just change the 'border' and tidy up the administrative details like police authority. The border community in question is already a fully integrated community in every respect.

Our laws are quite different for the same crime on one side of the border or the other. It is not just an "administrative matter".

Indeed, the method by which various "public health orders" are enforced vary significantly between the states, because they have their own parliaments and teams writing legislation for enforcement within their boundaries.

In any case, the adults would seem to really be in charge because they are abiding the constitution. Having done a little reading on the matter, there is actually a provision in the constitution for altering the boundaries of the states (and various other provisions relating to the construction of new states amongst other things too).

S123
The Parliament of the Commonwealth may, with the consent of the Parliament of a State, and the approval of the majority of the electors of the State voting upon the question, increase, diminish, or otherwise alter the limits of the State, upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed on, and may, with the like consent, make provision respecting the effect and operation of any increase or diminution or alteration of territory in relation to any State affected.

So you would need

1) Referendum of QLD and NSW granting approval
2) Approval from both QLD and NSW parliaments
3) Approval from Federal Parliament

By which time, COVID would be well and truly endemic in QLD.

 

[SydneySwan]

Why?
State borders have been completely irrelevant for the past century. Like State government.
Who cares where an anachronistic line was drawn when internal to Australia.

If the adults were really in charge and this is an administrative health matter then just change the 'border' and tidy up the administrative details like police authority. The border community in question is already a fully integrated community in every respect.

I agree. It only takes goodwill to resolve these issues.

Take a look at Kleinwalsertal in Austria. This is administratively part of Germany. Prior to the Euro its citizens used Deutschmarks and German banks that take deposits from residents of Kleinwalsertal report them as deposits from non-Germans. The residents voted in Austrian elections and had Austrian passports. Kleinwalsertal has no road connection to the rest of Austria except by going through Germany.