Australian state border restrictions

[Must...Fly!]

Not sure how I feel about getting a covid test just to go for a short holiday in Qld. It's a bit discouraging.

I am wondering how long the federal government will be willing to pay the bill for the testing for domestic travel purposes, personally.

 

[MooTime]

Not sure how I feel about getting a covid test just to go for a short holiday in Qld. It's a bit discouraging.

Is it a covid swab/test from local testing clinic (freebie, gov pays) or must it be an official GP or hospital where you pay approx $150 & get some paper/digital proof of testing negative??
as apart from a text message giving you all clear.

thanks in advance.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Not sure how I feel about getting a covid test just to go for a short holiday in Qld. It's a bit discouraging.

Good to see Medicare picking up the tab for entry into Qld

 

[jrfsp]

Not sure how I feel about getting a covid test just to go for a short holiday in Qld. It's a bit discouraging.

Hopefully RAT or lateral flow test will be acceptable soon but Australia is so slow on the uptake here.

 

[nutwood]

So the southern Tasmanian lockdown has been lifted at 6 pm tonight. Zero local cases and only the guy who brought himself in from New South Wales. I wonder how long Queensland will take to lift the ban on the state with zero local cases and zero local transmission?

I note that whilst the lockdown has been lifted, masks are now mandatory outside of the home. I have to ask why? If there were community transmission occurring, I could see some point. It's possible that all the contact tracing and testing has missed someone (and that person is still in southern Tasmania!), but the chances are very, very small and for that the entire southern half of Tasmania are wearing masks?
Technically, some bush walker up on the Western Arthurs is committing an offence if they're not wearing a mask!

 

[jakeseven7]

Not sure how I feel about getting a covid test just to go for a short holiday in Qld. It's a bit discouraging.

Given how easy they are to forge and impossible for authorities to verify on the spot I think I know what’s going to happen

 

[antycbr]

With all of these states insisting on negative tests, I raise the question of enforcement.

• If the road border is open, the traffic chaos of people needing to present results will be insane at the M1 border crossing. It's bad enough when the border is "closed"
• Similarly at BNE and OOL airports, how are you going to check whether people have been tested during the christmas rush? The airlines won't be checking as they, quite rightly, refuse to enforce petty state border controls.

Will it simply be a trust thing?

 

[RooFlyer]

I note that whilst the lockdown has been lifted, masks are now mandatory outside of the home. I have to ask why? If there were community transmission occurring, I could see some point. It's possible that all the contact tracing and testing has missed someone (and that person is still in southern Tasmania!), but the chances are very, very small and for that the entire southern half of Tasmania are wearing masks?
Technically, some bush walker up on the Western Arthurs is committing an offence if they're not wearing a mask!

I agree! See my previous comments about our CHO and his apparent wish to "do something".

Although, if we think about it, three days isn't sufficient time to be clear of any community cases, although all the *known* close contacts should be in quarrantine. But given the jerk (and I mean the Index Case, Covidiot, here) is being secretive, and the contact tracing a bit hamstrung, I can forgive him (the CHO) this one time!

And we on the masked-up east coast are closer to Launceston than Bridgewater!!

 

[jakeseven7]

Leaves Mr McGowan's fiefdom in a bit of an awkward spot.

Well yes this is going to massively unpick WA’s not so master plan

Because QLD has now defected and rolled over to the ‘other side’… so we are going to see NSW, ACT, VIC and QLD in one block.

I suspect Tassie and SA will roll over soon to be sure… NT, who honestly really cares (in terms of population it’s not many people to be ‘annoyed’ and register a blip on the radar)

Which means WA will be trapped.

Now I feel awful for people in WA, including my WA based family who look like they are going to miss out on our family Christmas

 

[jrfsp]

Well yes this is going to massively unpick WA’s not so master plan

Because QLD has now defected and rolled over to the ‘other side’… so we are going to see NSW, ACT, VIC and QLD in one block.

I suspect Tassie and SA will roll over soon to be sure… NT, who honestly really cares (in terms of population it’s not many people to be ‘annoyed’ and register a blip on the radar)

Which means WA will be trapped.

Now I feel awful for people in WA, including my WA based family who look like they are going to miss out on our family Christmas

There is no master plan to keep closed forever. The plan has always been to open the border at some point.

I dont think it will be in time for Xmas but i wouldnt be surprised if he names a date soon (Copy and paste QLDs plan)

 

[jakeseven7]

There is no master plan to keep closed forever. The plan has always been to open the border at some point.

Didn’t say there was… the master plan was to form a block of covid zero states to alleviate the pressure. QLD just nuked that idea spectacularly with their pineapple guns . Sorry WA!

 

[exceladdict]

I dont think it will be in time for Xmas but i wouldnt be surprised if he names a date soon (Copy and paste QLDs plan)

I think yes on part one, but not a straight copy/paste for part two. I am not a betting person but would think the odds favour a more restrictive 90% than QLD, at least in the short term. Maybe something like
- for low spread zones, a negative test prior to departure
- if coming from overseas or somewhere with uncontrolled spread, isolation until a further negative test on arrival
- HQ or complete bans on unvaccinated travellers for a period

I also wonder if there'll be a requirement to install/maintain G2G app such as for if someone on the plane over with you subsequently tests positive.

Locally, I think the problem will be moving the needle between 80% and 90%. For those with no interest in travelling and think they can take vitamin C to prevent the virus, the open border doesn't change the impetus to get a vaccine.

 

[jakeseven7]

With all of these states insisting on negative tests, I raise the question of enforcement.

• If the road border is open, the traffic chaos of people needing to present results will be insane at the M1 border crossing. It's bad enough when the border is "closed"
• Similarly at BNE and OOL airports, how are you going to check whether people have been tested during the christmas rush? The airlines won't be checking as they, quite rightly, refuse to enforce petty state border controls.

Will it simply be a trust thing?

Agree, plus it’s so simple to ‘update’ a negative test result from a random path lab to suit your purpose. A 10 year old can do it in about 2 minutes.

The authorities won’t be able to check any in real time.

My money is the negative test requirement will disappear very very quickly.

 

[oz_mark]

There is no master plan to keep closed forever. The plan has always been to open the border at some point.

There hasn't been a plan, master or otherwise.

 

[JohnM]

As a close friend of mine, who worked with McGowan in the past has said: "He always did see things in black and white."

 

[MARTINE]

As a close friend of mine, who worked with McGowan in the past has said: "He always did see things in black and white."

Collingwood supporter?

 

[Must...Fly!]

As a close friend of mine, who worked with McGowan in the past has said: "He always did see things in black and white."

I'd say he's learned to see things in shades of iron ore

 

[nutwood]

As a close friend of mine, who worked with McGowan in the past has said: "He always did see things in black and white."

It's not just McGowan, it's the nature of the political beast. There's not many other professions where you win or lose on a three or four year cycle. The result is that those who are successful think in terms of eliminating every risk. They have minions scouting ahead, ready to divert any black feline that might cross the master's path.
They are eminently suited to pursue Covid zero but totally unqualified for any strategy that involves managing a risk. My feeling is that we should be engaging professional gamblers to bring us out of Covid. I'm sure David Walsh would jump at the chance!

 

[MARTINE]

It's not just McGowan, it's the nature of the political beast. There's not many other professions where you win or lose on a three or four year cycle. The result is that those who are successful think in terms of eliminating every risk. They have minions scouting ahead, ready to divert any black feline that might cross the master's path.
They are eminently suited to pursue Covid zero but totally unqualified for any strategy that involves managing a risk. My feeling is that we should be engaging professional gamblers to bring us out of Covid. I'm sure David Walsh would jump at the chance!

veeery good - DW has already declared his impeccable vaccination support credentials....

 

[JohnM]

Collingwood supporter?

Is that the place where they can't solve any crime because there are no dental records and the DNA is all the same?