Quote from McGowan;
"We don’t want to see the pandemonium and chaos that is occurring in states in the east occur here over this crucial period for families and small businesses"
Hmm don't see any pandemonium or chaos here in Sictoria... Off to Mornington Peninsula this weekend.
Have big few days over Xmas with family
All is fine McGowan, thanks for checking in!
Having flown from SYD to AVV yesterday I didn't see any pandemonium. Indeed, yesterday afternoon this was the scenes out of the Departures halll of Terminal 3 of SYD:
If anything, the Australian aviation sector is still desperately trying to recover from COVID. We see SUNTAN fares everywhere for domestic travel (my trip to AVV was $66 return had I chosen the Starter fare on JQ). Travelling to AVV, it was smooth sailing. No Victorian border to cross as was the case back in November (where you had to show your papers). That being said, I am somewhat concerned about my upcoming trip to ADL in January. I'm guessing I can just get a COVID test at a community clinic and show the negative test result as proof to enter SA as is the case for QLD? The one benefit I have with my disability (immune-compromised) is I have access to priority testing centres where I don't have to mingle with the riff-raff.
I’m in Melbourne and I’m walking down the cities bustling laneways desperately searching for the ‘Pandemonium chaos’ WA is shrieking about …. Is it a new bar or something? A speak easy? Can any Victorian tell me where it is??
Just returned from the CBD and can confirm that indeed things have returned to normal in Melbourne. Bustling streets and things mostly returning to normal. Not back 100% from where they were pre-COVID, but a heck of a lot more lively than it was 3 weeks ago.
Current pandemonium in Sydney, where I'm visiting - people going places, meeting others, getting on with life.
In other words, enjoying themselves. You know, being able to leave their homes and travel interstate be it on the road or by air. Heading to the international terminal to fly out and visit friends and relatives overseas they've been physically separated from for at least 2 years. Oh the humanity! I hope hermit kingdom enjoys their "freedom".
Double dosed percentage for Tas. is lower than ACT, NSW, and Vic. First dose percentage is higher in Tas, but until the all important second doses catch up, you can not claim to be outperforming others.
I find it surprising how little people are talking about boosters here. Even on the ABC only sometimes do they report the triple dose rate (around 4% nationally). Fortunately, I'm one of those people. All of that being said, and something Mr. McGowan needs to realize is you need to start planning for living in a world where COVID is around. That not only means getting people vaccinated, but providing people with the tools to stay safe in their community. Masks, rapid antigen tests and sound advice to stay safe. For instance, why is it the states mention cough as a symptom of COVID? The last two strains we encountered (Delta and Omicron) have that as a fairly rare symptom. The number one symptom now is headache and runny nose.
How long will their residents accept being locked in?
That is the more pertinent question than for everyone else being locked out.
It cuts both ways really. Yes WA residents literally cannot escape the hermit kingdom at the moment which makes it difficult for some WA businesses to conduct their business, but it also means families and communities will remain separated for an indefinite time, all because of a virus which in all likelihood causes the sniffles if you are fully vaccinated. The lockdowns and restrictions were great in 2020 it saved a lot of lives and kept many safe, but right now with the vaccines, treatments, and what we know about COVID (e.g., it's an airborne illness) there is a need for a recalibration in approach, something the big three (NSW, VIC and ACT) have figured out.
The other harm, and certainly something I think gets very little coverage in the media is the impact these restrictions are having on the travel and tourism business. At one point Perth was a major hub in Oceania connecting major destinations around the world. Indeed, pre-COVID QF would be flying LHR > PER regularly. This is to say nothing of the countless businesses in WA who rely heavily on tourism (e.g., zoos, tours, etc.) What is the WA government doing to help these struggling businesses who will now be entering a third year of 0 business?
What percentage of the population have never been outside WA? Ever? In the past decade? I don’t know the numbers, but I’d expect the vast majority of the easterners have never been west. Isolation doesn’t make the heart grow fonder, but it makes it much easier to simply not care.
There is nothing wrong with Perth. It makes a great connection point for international travel, especially if you are banking on redeeming Singapore points
-RooFlyer88
