Predictions of when international flights may resume/bans lifted

[Pushka]

I haven't seen the survey, but if - as you say - it is *designed* to put political pressure on the government, my initial thought is that the survey would be dismissed on grounds of bias.

I don't think that's helpful in the long run to anyone!

Having completed the survey, it's run by Flinders University and SAHMRC and not a private group. They have to follow protocols. It has a very strong emphasis on mental health.

 

[Lynda2475]

On Sunday Project they had a story about a fully vaccinated couple who had arrived from USA to see the man's dying father who has end stage pancreatic cancer and is at his own home (not in a hospital where others could be at risk). Feds gave a compassionate exemption to enter Australia (as whilst the father was an Australian citizen, the couple were not, from accent sounded like from South Africa), they flew into Sydney and NSW also granted an exemption to leave HQ to travel to Qld BUT Qld wont grant an exemption. The couple offered to chafter a private plane from SYD to BNE and to wear hazmat suits until inside his Dads house, still a no go.

PVO quite rightly called Dr Young heartless.

 

[drron]

Good for you. Have been waiting for this to happen. Was reading about that poor chap who flew from Belgium to be with his dying mum in Perth - ofc couldn’t fly straight into WA so flew into melbourne and then got stuck wrangling between the various authorities and she died while he was sitting, fully vaccinated, in a hotel room in melbourne. The comments below were eye popping - “well imagine if they’d let him on a plane to Perth and he’d given someone covid”, “we all have to make sacrifices in a pandemic”. NO! How about if it was possible to fly directly to Perth then he would have? And if that’s not available it’s actually on the government to figure out a compassionate approach that actually works.

am beyond disgusted with australia - both the government(s) but also a big chunk of the population. What a miserable, selfish, unempathetic people we turn out to be.

The problem is it can be done.
I was working in Launceston April - June.I looked after a few people who died.We were able to get exemptions for a single mother with her 2 young children to fly from WA to Tasmania.Then they were allowed into the hospital to see and talk to him.At the time the NWRH cluster was in full swing.Had to be escorted from their HQ to the hospital by the police and wear PPE.

Another fellow had sons in Sydney and NZ.both got exemptions to fly to Tasmania.The son from Sydney arrived in time to see his father sadly the son from NZ was a couple of hours late.They were able to stay and attend his funeral.Escorted to it by police and had to wear PPE.

Then in September I was working in Latrobe.Had a delightful 91 year old who lived alone.Couldn't now look after herself at home.Her son got an exemption to fly from Melbourne and was allowed to spend his quarantine at his mother's home.When he went home his son was allowed to do the same.

If Tasmania can do it then why not other states.

 

[Lynda2475]

If Tasmania can do it then why not other states

NSW has done it too - there is an obviously commonality between those two states.

 

[Pushka]

NSW has done it too - there is an obviously commonality between those two states.

SA allowed a woman from UK to visit her dying father in Hospital. She was allowed to visit during her quarantine dressed in hazmat style clothing.

 

[roogirl]

exactly! Of course it can, and should, be done. But the onus is on the government (and it has to be the federal government to ensure consistency cross border) to lay out a fair process that can be industrialised. Use some of those sweeping emergency powers if the states object. It’s pathetic.

The issue with this poor guy is he got caught in between victoria and wa. I don’t blame him for saying he’s never coming “home” to australia again.

 

[Princess Fiona]

exactly! Of course it can, and should, be done. But the onus is on the government (and it has to be the federal government to ensure consistency cross border) to lay out a fair process that can be industrialised. Use some of those sweeping emergency powers if the states object. It’s pathetic.

The issue with this poor guy is he got caught in between victoria and wa. I don’t blame him for saying he’s never coming “home” to australia again.

I agree but there is absolutely no mechanism for the Feds to alllow free passage of persons from one state to another. When it comes down to it Australia isn’t really a true country, it never was. It’s a collection of states with varying buy into Australia as a nation. As a naturalized Australian I have had this impression for years and the pandemic has only reinforced my beliefs.

 

[dajop]

I agree but there is absolutely no mechanism for the Feds to alllow free passage of persons from one state to another.

I think the best way would be to have a mechanism (where possible, obviously Tas, NT, ACT are problematic without regular scheduled services, and ex-US is difficult as only services into SYD) to allow compassionate exemption from the cap for such cases so people can fly direct to where they need to be, rather than whatever they can get. It's not as if there' be hundreds, or even dozens each week.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I think the best way would be to have a mechanism (where possible, obviously Tas, NT, ACT are problematic without regular scheduled services, and ex-US is difficult as only services into SYD) to allow compassionate exemption from the cap for such cases. It's not as if there' be hundreds, or even dozens each week.

But those cases require a HQ room in the state where they land.
I don’t think we have a state based or even better a national booking system for HQ.
There’s an absolute disconnect between international arrivals and state based HQ caps and allocations.
If there is a system I think it’s drafted on the back of a fa_ packet.

 

[dajop]

There’s an absolute disconnect between international arrivals and state based HQ caps and allocations.

Oh so true, but I am fairly confident that the states could easily absorb an extra person or two per week returning to see dying relatives. Maybe it is managed more carefully in other states, when we arrived in Sydney, they didn't know how many rooms were needed until people checked in. My partner and I were travelling together, and they had no idea whether we were occupying one room or two (we were on separate bookings).

 

[Flashback]

Oh so true, but I am fairly confident that the states could easily absorb an extra person or two per week returning to see dying relatives. Maybe it is managed more carefully in other states, when we arrived in Sydney, they didn't know how many rooms were needed until people checked in. My partner and I were travelling together, and they had no idea whether we were occupying one room or two (we were on separate bookings).

UK is the same in this regard with their HQ.

 

[Pushka]

I agree but there is absolutely no mechanism for the Feds to alllow free passage of persons from one state to another. When it comes down to it Australia isn’t really a true country, it never was. It’s a collection of states with varying buy into Australia as a nation. As a naturalized Australian I have had this impression for years and the pandemic has only reinforced my beliefs.

As a third generation Aussie, this has been a huge learning lesson for me. And I hate it. We need to rewrite our "This is Australia" books. And songs.

Post automatically merged: Jun 23, 2021

Oh so true, but I am fairly confident that the states could easily absorb an extra person or two per week returning to see dying relatives. Maybe it is managed more carefully in other states, when we arrived in Sydney, they didn't know how many rooms were needed until people checked in. My partner and I were travelling together, and they had no idea whether we were occupying one room or two (we were on separate bookings).

It's getting them there that's the issue.

 

[SydneySwan]

On Sunday Project they had a story about a fully vaccinated couple who had arrived from USA to see the man's dying father who has end stage pancreatic cancer and is at his own home (not in a hospital where others could be at risk). Feds gave a compassionate exemption to enter Australia (as whilst the father was an Australian citizen, the couple were not, from accent sounded like from South Africa), they flew into Sydney and NSW also granted an exemption to leave HQ to travel to Qld BUT Qld wont grant an exemption. The couple offered to chafter a private plane from SYD to BNE and to wear hazmat suits until inside his Dads house, still a no go.

PVO quite rightly called Dr Young heartless.

7.30 report on ABC last night looked at this case again. AP tried to blame the PM as to why they can't be exempted. The PM wrote the American couple a letter saying he couldn't make Queensland let them in. The behaviour of both AP, JY and PM is absolutely contemptible in this case. A man is dying and they are all just playing political games instead of facilitating a solution.

 

[Pushka]

7.30 report on ABC last night looked at this case again. AP tried to blame the PM as to why they can't be exempted. The PM wrote the American couple a letter saying he couldn't make Queensland let them in. The behaviour of both AP, JY and PM is absolutely contemptible in this case. A man is dying and they are all just playing political games instead of facilitating a solution.

It is so easy to avoid all accountability with the manner in which our so called Federation is structured. I can't go political but sometimes it is so necessary. And I'm colour blind currently so as far as I'm concerned they are all contemptible.

 

[jakeseven7]

7.30 report on ABC last night looked at this case again. AP tried to blame the PM as to why they can't be exempted. The PM wrote the American couple a letter saying he couldn't make Queensland let them in. The behaviour of both AP, JY and PM is absolutely contemptible in this case. A man is dying and they are all just playing political games instead of facilitating a solution.

Deeply deeply ashamed to be a Queenslander right now (again)

 

[openseat]

Deeply deeply ashamed to be a Queenslander right now (again)

I agree with your sentiment. I shudder at the thought of JY being governor and visiting people after a natural disaster if this is her attitude. I hope at same stage soon they all have some sort of denouement about the pain they have caused.

 

[oznflfan]

Deeply deeply ashamed to be a Queenslander right now (again)

Why did Queensland vote her back in, they knew what they were getting.

 

[jonboixxx]

Why did Queensland vote her back in, they knew what they were getting.

She got in with 39% and COVID incumbency. 61% of us definitely knew what we were getting.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

As a third generation Aussie, this has been a huge learning lesson for me. And I hate it. We need to rewrite our "This is Australia" books. And songs.

Post automatically merged: Jun 23, 2021

It's getting them there that's the issue.

The problem will be getting constitutional change, which given the popularity of the state governments is unlikely to ever pass a referendum.

Personally I prefer a system where state government looks after the key things like social change, consumer affairs, and sets health policy in line with what I want, not just commercial consideration.

 

[ayushamity]

So Senate yesterday backed the motion to allow holders of Prospective Marriage Visa to be granted automatic exemptions from the travel ban (Partner Visa holders and Immediate Family members are already exempt)

Karen Andrews - The Minister for Home Affairs has to sign off on the exemption rule change (not holding my breath though..)

It looks like this could be the start of a slow change of recognizing family members and overseas travel and that not all overseas travel is 'holidays'