Predictions of when international flights may resume/bans lifted

[MEL_Traveller]

So you're actually saying that the current quarantine capabilities allow for an influx of 1200 extra people for a 2-week tennis tournament and rich celebrities, but not for stranded Australians?

Do you support Australians being stranded overseas while Zac Efron's brother enters the country? While tennis players don't have to follow the rules?

The quarantine capabilities did not support tennis players arriving for the AO. To accommodate the tennis players the AO had to buy in the resources to create additional capacity outside what was available, to the cost of $40 million.

Mr Efron's application to enter Australia was granted at the request of the NSW government, and was outside the cap.

 

[Pushka]

Mr Efron's application to enter Australia was granted at the request of the NSW government, and was outside the cap.

Well, the thing is, that such opportunities are not given to the average pleb, are they? Efron's brother?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Well, the thing is, that such opportunities are not given to the average pleb, are they? Efron's brother?

IIRC as posted a while ago back in one of these threads, an airline spokesperson said that DFAT does from time to time designate someone as being particularly vulnerable and the airline is required to carry them home. Those people are carried over and above the cap for that flight. It does seem that where there are compelling circumstances, similar arrangements are being made.

NSW seems to get pretty good press for their handling of covid including their approach to lockdowns, border closures (or rather, keeping them open) and the numbers of people they accept into HQ. They must have had a good reason to make this request.

 

[hb13]

IIRC as posted a while ago back in one of these threads, an airline spokesperson said that DFAT does from time to time designate someone as being particularly vulnerable and the airline is required to carry them home. Those people are carried over and above the cap for that flight. It does seem that where there are compelling circumstances, similar arrangements are being made.

NSW seems to get pretty good press for their handling of covid including their approach to lockdowns, border closures (or rather, keeping them open) and the numbers of people they accept into HQ. They must have had a good reason to make this request.

What could his reason have been? You have steadfastly defended the government in most issues, so what possible reasons are there for him to be granted into the country?

Post automatically merged: May 2, 2021

The quarantine capabilities did not support tennis players arriving for the AO. To accommodate the tennis players the AO had to buy in the resources to create additional capacity outside what was available, to the cost of $40 million.

Mr Efron's application to enter Australia was granted at the request of the NSW government, and was outside the cap.

So its a money issue. The Australian government is willing to fork out to help Australians? And the Aussie government is the one who has decided to price hotel quarantine what it is and put in place caps as well as provide very minimal repatriation flights.

You're ok with all of this?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

What could his reason have been? You have steadfastly defended the government in most issues, so what possible reasons are there for him to be granted into the country?

The NSW government estimated Mr Efron's brother and the Netflix show he was producing would inject around $2 million into the film industry.

 

[hb13]

The NSW government estimated Mr Efron's brother and the Netflix show he was producing would inject around $2 million into the film industry.

Can you show me where you saw this?

According to IMDB, this is the first show/docu he is producing: Dylan Efron - IMDb

So you're saying it is ok to bring in someone who has never produced anything to produce a documentary, when there are plenty of Australian producers who could probably do a better job?

 

[jase05]

Can you show me where you saw this?

According to IMDB, this is the first show/docu he is producing: Dylan Efron - IMDb

So you're saying it is ok to bring in someone who has never produced anything to produce a documentary, when there are plenty of Australian producers who could probably do a better job?

Australian Border Force Commissioner Michael Outram was grilled about the decision to allow Dylan to enter by Senator Kristina Keneally in Canberra yesterday.

“It really set off a number of Australians who couldn’t get home for dying relatives,” Ms Keneally said, according to AAP. “Stranded Australians were very angry about Dylan Efron.”

Mr Outram explained that Dylan was allowed into the country to work on his brother’s Netflix show, Down To Earth (on IMDb Dylan is listed as a producer).

“The exemption was granted on the basis of the applicant having critical skills and was supported by the NSW Government,” Mr Outram told Ms Keneally.

“Mr Efron’s arrival was not included in NSW flight caps and did not impact on the number of Australians that could return.”

Mr Outram added that the Netflix show, which is being filmed in Australia, is expected to pump $2 million into the local film industry.

 

[hb13]

Australian Border Force Commissioner Michael Outram was grilled about the decision to allow Dylan to enter by Senator Kristina Keneally in Canberra yesterday.

“It really set off a number of Australians who couldn’t get home for dying relatives,” Ms Keneally said, according to AAP. “Stranded Australians were very angry about Dylan Efron.”

Mr Outram explained that Dylan was allowed into the country to work on his brother’s Netflix show, Down To Earth (on IMDb Dylan is listed as a producer).

“The exemption was granted on the basis of the applicant having critical skills and was supported by the NSW Government,” Mr Outram told Ms Keneally.

“Mr Efron’s arrival was not included in NSW flight caps and did not impact on the number of Australians that could return.”

Mr Outram added that the Netflix show, which is being filmed in Australia, is expected to pump $2 million into the local film industry.

As I mentioned earlier, how is he critical or what "critical skills" has he got that people in Australia who probably need the work don't have?

Some here are justifying that it is ok to allow him to enter the country when he is doing so at a time that he is (a) taking work away from an Australian who is probably more qualified (this is Efron's first docu); and (b) Australians are stranded overseas and can't get home for a variety of different reasons.

I'm appalled that some people find this ok.

 

[mviy]

I would not be surprised if some of the Premiers said in National Cabinet that if a ban wasn't placed on travel from India they would like to stop taking any international arrivals at all. That would have left little choice but to impose the tougher restrictions. Some people getting home is better than none at all.

 

[hb13]

Some people getting home is better than none at all.

I don't think prioritising some citizens over others is a way to go, so I would disagree. Further to this, Aussies in India & Brazil need more support than others now.

If an Australian in India gets sick now, whether it is COVID or otherwise, and needs a hospital or medical support, they may be completely out of luck - it is effectively a war zone there now. The Australian government should be doing everything it physically can to get Aussies home as well as supporting India in general with financial and medical aid.

 

[mviy]

I don’t like the ban on Aussies coming home from India. However, no Aussies coming home at all from anywhere overseas (except NZ) would put us even further away from more people being allowed to depart Australia.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

As I mentioned earlier, how is he critical or what "critical skills" has he got that people in Australia who probably need the work don't have?

Some here are justifying that it is ok to allow him to enter the country when he is doing so at a time that he is (a) taking work away from an Australian who is probably more qualified (this is Efron's first docu); and (b) Australians are stranded overseas and can't get home for a variety of different reasons.

I'm appalled that some people find this ok.

Special quarantine arrangements were made for 1500 seasonal workers to come and pick fruit on Victorian farms.

 

[N860CR]

The hypocrisy of the entire arrangement is astounding, and I for one have lost all respect for this country and the way we treat our people. God help us if a serious pandemic ever overtakes the world . It disgusts me that my tax dollars are spent to fund state border closures and lockouts rather than support for our own citizens.

 

[hb13]

I don’t like the ban on Aussies coming home from India. However, no Aussies coming home at all from anywhere overseas (except NZ) would put us even further away from more people being allowed to depart Australia.

I don't think we are far from that in Australia. Now that Australians have been banned from India, whos to say it won't happen from other countries that experience a new wave?

I think being allowed to enter or depart Australia fairly restriction free (even for fully vaccinated people) is years away. Best case scenario - 2025/25. I'd like to be proven wrong - but the writing is on the wall, and the majority of the population appear to support this.

 

[jakeseven7]

It is exceedingly easy to being foreign nationals into this country if you splash some money in the right places.

We have done it. Just waved some $ at the right people.

Do I agree with it? Nope, especially when everyday Australians are still locked out.

Do we live in a highly capitalist society where money talks? Yup.

 

[jase05]

As I mentioned earlier, how is he critical or what "critical skills" has he got that people in Australia who probably need the work don't have?

Some here are justifying that it is ok to allow him to enter the country when he is doing so at a time that he is (a) taking work away from an Australian who is probably more qualified (this is Efron's first docu); and (b) Australians are stranded overseas and can't get home for a variety of different reasons.

I'm appalled that some people find this ok.

BTW, not saying I necessarily agree it with, just posting the article as you requested

 

[Pushka]

Mr Outram added that the Netflix show, which is being filmed in Australia, is expected to pump $2 million into the local film industry.

And could very well be done without a green sibling to assist when Australia has so much local film production talent.

Post automatically merged: May 3, 2021

Special quarantine arrangements were made for 1500 seasonal workers to come and pick fruit on Victorian farms.

Because none could be sourced in Australia.

 

[hb13]

Special quarantine arrangements were made for 1500 seasonal workers to come and pick fruit on Victorian farms.

So what you're saying, is somehow, some way, the government found a way to allow thousands of people into Australia - except for stranded Aussies?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

And could very well be done without a green sibling to assist when Australia has so much local film production talent.

Post automatically merged: May 3, 2021

Because none could be sourced in Australia.

But the point was being made that we shouldn't allow celebrities into Australia to do jobs that Australians could do. Fruit picking has a bad reputation for harsh conditions and low pay. I'm sure if fruit growers were willing to pay hefty salaries we could find the required 1500?

The role of a producer can directly impact the direction and success of a show. From choice of director to creative decisions to marketing. Zac Efron's brother - no matter how 'green' - is possibly going to understand his brother's intentions for the show, and open more doors in Hollywood, than an Australian.

 

[Pushka]

But the point was being made that we shouldn't allow celebrities into Australia to do jobs that Australians could do. Fruit picking has a bad reputation for harsh conditions and low pay. I'm sure if fruit growers were willing to pay hefty salaries we could find the required 1500?

The role of a producer can directly impact the direction and success of a show. From choice of director to creative decisions to marketing. Zac Efron's brother - no matter how 'green' - is possibly going to understand his brother's intentions for the show, and open more doors in Hollywood, than an Australian.

He's not a celebrity. Understand about Zac. His brother? Possibly going to understand his brothers intentions? Grasping at straws maybe?