Australian state border restrictions

[nutwood]

Yup, what I’ve been saying for months and months. But we seem not to care anymore about tourism anymore in QLD clearly…

Unfortunately it's not just tourism. That hotel that is doing it tough, is surrounded by other businesses supplying them. Someone washes their sheets for them. The laundry that provides this service uses a local tradesman to maintain their equipment. That tradesman uses the local mechanic to fix his ute. When you pull a major income stream from an area, the effect flows on.
What I find disturbing is that I'm not seeing a lot of evidence for the above on the ground. Whilst the directly hit businesses are doing it tough, the flow on doesn't seem to be an issue, with most trades etc still busy. I can see only two logical reasons for this. One is that I'm wrong (very serious and highly unlikely!) or the economy is still awash with cash from job keeper and the effects from the latest mess have yet to be seen.

 

[Jmrocky]

What I find disturbing is that I'm not seeing a lot of evidence for the above on the ground. Whilst the directly hit businesses are doing it tough, the flow on doesn't seem to be an issue, with most trades etc still busy. I can see only two logical reasons for this. One is that I'm wrong (very serious and highly unlikely!) or the economy is still awash with cash from job keeper and the effects from the latest mess have yet to be seen.

Construction is booming on the GC, property prices up 20% within FY21, mainly driven by refugees from Vic / NSW. Other areas are similar, with the housing / building market picking up.

Those directly associated with tourism (hotels / tour operators) are struggling obviously, but other areas have picked up.

 

[Must...Fly!]

And yet somehow housing prices in Victoria are through the roof as well...

 

[oz_mark]

And yet somehow housing prices in Victoria are through the roof as well...

Some people are doing it tough. On the other hand, there's a whole bunch of cashed-up folk with nothing to spend their money on.

Inflation may be on the rise.

 

[nutwood]

Some people are doing it tough. On the other hand, there's a whole bunch of cashed-up folk with nothing to spend their money on.

Inflation may be on the rise.

Is it perhaps the case that there are sufficient people working in white collar jobs that haven't experienced any loss of income, to totally counter the losses in other areas? Frustrated public servants accumulating savings!

 

[jakeseven7]

Some people are doing it tough. On the other hand, there's a whole bunch of cashed-up folk with nothing to spend their money on.

Inflation may be on the rise.

it’s definitely a massive 2 speed economy and unfortunately a lot of those lucky enough to be in the fast lane are completely oblivious to what is happening behind them that’s for sure, you read it on here even… and the state border restrictions are a massive issue to stifling demand for a lot of industries.

 

[drron]

Well I am in the fast lane as worked a lot more than I would have because of covid.
But working in hospitals brings you face to face with those who are not.plus those who are dying not from Covid but from the reaction to it.A bit raw at the moment spending an hour with a 51 year old woman who had lined up her Grand European trip for April 2020 but now is dying because of a delayed cancer diagnosis.

 

[Seat0B]

Well I am in the fast lane as worked a lot more than I would have because of covid.
But working in hospitals brings you face to face with those who are not.plus those who are dying not from Covid but from the reaction to it.A bit raw at the moment spending an hour with a 51 year old woman who had lined up her Grand European trip for April 2020 but now is dying because of a delayed cancer diagnosis.

that's very tough for you as well as terrible for her and her family.

 

[JessicaTam]

[mod hat]
All those who chose to ignore a moderator direction have just had their posts deleted.
[/mod hat]

 

[Danger]

Looks like it’s on if you watched The Project tonight. Was basically an open invitation to anyone who has standing to challenge the border closures. The below article is a summary of the segment.

It basically sounded like an open call for anyone with standing to challenge. Go read the judgement Palmer v Western Australia [2021] HCA 5 and you’ll see the case hinges on proportionality of restrictions.

Looming problem for states that won’t open up

Both states are in no hurry to open their borders, but Queensland and Western Australia could find themselves vulnerable to unprecedented legal issues as the rest of Australia embraces ‘Covid normal’ in the coming months.

www.news.com.au

I think a court win over a closed border may be a pyrrhic victory. I could see the states which lost simply saying 'Fine. Come in. By the way, we now have indefinite quarantine for interstate arrivals'.

 

[jakeseven7]

I think a court win over a closed border may be a pyrrhic victory. I could see the states which lost simply saying 'Fine. Come in. By the way, we now have indefinite quarantine for interstate arrivals'.

Yup absolve them of responsibility, a politician getting a free pass they are probably all gagging to lose the court cases! Best of both worlds…

 

[antycbr]

I think a court win over a closed border may be a pyrrhic victory. I could see the states which lost simply saying 'Fine. Come in. By the way, we now have indefinite quarantine for interstate arrivals'.

That sounds remarkably like unlawful detention.

 

[nutwood]

We had an entire thread on this subject? My feeling is that we dissected it down to a far finer degree than most courts would. I look forward to seeing Frequent Flyer being cited!

 

[openseat]

Yup, what I’ve been saying for months and months. But we seem not to care anymore about tourism anymore in QLD clearly…

 

[jakeseven7]

Good news our two biggest states are moving forward while the rest tread water

——

NSW to begin talks on Victorian border​

The NSW Premier says she will begin talks with Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews about reopening the border in a few weeks.

As it happened: NSW records 863 new local COVID-19 cases, 15 deaths; Victoria records 950 new cases, seven deaths; Queensland records one new case

Victorians are allowed to return to the golf course as parts of Gippsland enter a snap lockdown, NSW healthcare workers have tomorrow to be vaccinated and Brisbane remains on high alert after a coronavirus outbreak.

www.smh.com.au

 

[jrfsp]

TAS providing an update. Essentially saying they wont open their border at 80%.

Looking at their own modelling to be released in October

criticizing the NSW governments reopening plan - wow

 

[jakeseven7]

TAS providing an update. Essentially saying they wont open their border at 80%.

Looking at their own modelling to be released in October

criticizing the NSW governments reopening plan - wow

So same old dribble… sigh

 

[antycbr]

So same old dribble… sigh

Goodbye Tasmanian tourism industry.

When they get a case they won't be able to lock down though once they go through 80% as the feds won't pay for it.

 

[arrow]

Goodbye Tasmanian tourism industry.

When they get a case they won't be able to lock down though once they go through 80% as the feds won't pay for it.

Completely useless. Hoping the tapering of the Fed support forces a reopening.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Completely useless. Hoping the tapering of the Fed support forces a reopening.

If Tasmania don't need a lockdown, then the understanding is that Tasmania doesn't qualify for Federal covid-related support.

Tas Premier is concerned about an overwhelmed hospital system from opening up the State borders too early - the quote from ABC blog is

COVID modelling suggests almost 100 people would die within six months of Tasmania opening up at 80 per cent vaccination​

Premier Peter Gutwein says modelling suggests opening the state up with an 80 per cent vaccination rate would result in 14,900 cases and nearly 100 deaths within the first six months.


Tas Premier is adopting an 'everyone has an opportunity to have the vaccine' approach, which is where some people were advocating for not too long ago (back in June) when vaccination rates were woeful. It seems he accepts cases will happen, just let everyone have a chance to get vaccinated - it seems people are still turniing up in Tas to get vaccinate 30k (per week???)