Predictions of when international flights may resume/bans lifted

[roogirl]

I don’t know. I’m really uncomfortable with mandatory vaccination. (Even though I am strongly pro vaxx myself.) It’s a tricky issue.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I don’t know. I’m really uncomfortable with mandatory vaccination. (Even though I am strongly pro vaxx myself.) It’s a tricky issue.

Agree.

On one part of AFF people are comparing Australia to a Communist dictatorship because we aren't free to leave. On another some are advocating compulsory vaccination. Which would also bring us dangerously close to a dictatorship. The government can't really win. I guess the right answer is that the freedom to choose (vaccination or not) has to outweigh the ability to travel.

 

[Pushka]

Agree.

On one part of AFF people are comparing Australia to a Communist dictatorship because we aren't free to leave. On another some are advocating compulsory vaccination. Which would also bring us dangerously close to a dictatorship. The government can't really win. I guess the right answer is that the freedom to choose (vaccination or not) has to outweigh the ability to travel.

But "your" freedom to choose should not have any impact on others freedom to travel.

 

[jakeseven7]

Agree.

On one part of AFF people are comparing Australia to a Communist dictatorship because we aren't free to leave. On another some are advocating compulsory vaccination. Which would also bring us dangerously close to a dictatorship. The government can't really win. I guess the right answer is that the freedom to choose (vaccination or not) has to outweigh the ability to travel.

What a ridiculous basic argument.

The government can/should have ‘win/won’ by getting their A into G and getting enough vaccine here to give people the choice to be vaccinated, months and months ago.

 

[SydneySwan]

COVID-19 vaccination and travel exemption eligibility​

Vaccination status does not currently determine or influence the outcome of a travel exemption request.

Department of Home Affairs Website

Home Affairs brings together Australia's federal law enforcement, national and transport security, criminal justice, emergency management, multicultural affairs, settlement services and immigration and border-related functions, working together to keep Australia safe.

covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au

Why does it not Influence the decision? Just another example of government policy with its head in the sand.

 

[JB expat]

I think in a few months or so it would be reasonable to require say for instance those over 70 to have been vaccinated to go to the football. Whether or not the government will actually bring in a requirement like that is another question.

I think in a few month or so it would be reasonable to require ANYONE eligible and without a medical-based exemption to have been vaccinated to go to the football, to the theater, to a concert, to a museum, to an exhibition, to any event with over some threshold number of people. Vaccines are the only way out - time for the big carrots & big sticks (as others have said).

 

[JB expat]

But "your" freedom to choose should not have any impact on others freedom to travel.

And choices have consequences...allowing individuals to choose but having harsh consequences in terms of limits on activities for those who opt not to vaccinate seems to be a very sane way of approaching this. Why should someone's [selfish] choice not to vaccinate mean that others have to deal with the risk of such a selfish choice - that main consequences of that selfish choice should fall on the person who made that choice. And of course, the selfish choice is even more selfish when you think about adults with medical reasons why they cannot get vaccinated and children who are a long way from being eligible to be vaccinated here in Australia. Herd immunity requires mass participation, that's based on science - a choice not based on science does not merit ANY sympathy and should indeed come with serious consequences.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

But "your" freedom to choose should not have any impact on others freedom to travel.

except it does... if the criteria is that the borders won't open until 'x' number of people are vaccinated.

we can't force someone to have a medical procedure against their will just so we can travel. That really would be a major regression in our democracy.

 

[Pushka]

except it does... if the criteria is that the borders won't open until 'x' number of people are vaccinated.

we can't force someone to have a medical procedure against their will just so we can travel. That really would be a major regression in our democracy.

We currently force medical procedures all the time, eg vaccination for children so they can attend child care and Kindergarten and for their parents to access Centrelink benefits.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

We currently force medical procedures all the time, eg vaccination for children so they can attend child care and Kindergarten amd for their parents to access Centrelink benefits.

Sure... but that’s a person benefit/incentive. And a choice to forego centrelink benefits if you want. In the covid example you getting vaccinated may be no benefit to yourself, only someone else.

 

[Pushka]

Sure... but that’s a person benefit/incentive. And a choice to forego centrelink benefits if you want. In the covid example you getting vaccinated may be no benefit to yourself, only someone else.

So ergo, vaccinated People have the benefit/incentive of travel. And everyone benefits from being vaccinated because even young people can become very ill from it and no one knows if that person will be themselves.

 

[JB expat]

Sure... but that’s a person benefit/incentive. And a choice to forego centrelink benefits if you want. In the covid example you getting vaccinated may be no benefit to yourself, only someone else.

The COVID vaccine lowers the risk that you will be hospitalized - whether it actually does can never be determined, but it theoretically does. Primary schools also require that children be vaccinated to enroll because of the POTENTIAL exposure to a variety of serious illnesses (if you choose not to vaccinate, then homeschool) - and many people still get chicken pox despite getting the chicken pox vaccine, just a less severe form (and this is one of the childhood vaccines). Requiring the COVID vaccine to participate in certain activities seems no different to me.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The COVID vaccine lowers the risk that you will be hospitalized - whether it actually does can never be determined, but it theoretically does. Primary schools also require that children be vaccinated to enroll because of the POTENTIAL exposure to a variety of serious illnesses (if you choose not to vaccinate, then homeschool) - and many people still get chicken pox despite getting the chicken pox vaccine, just a less severe form (and this is one of the childhood vaccines). Requiring the COVID vaccine to participate in certain activities seems no different to me.

I agree. But telling person A 'you must get vaccinated so person B can take a holiday' seems to be just on the other side of the line?

I'm not across immunisation requirements in other states, but Victoria for example does not require immunisation for primary school. Parents are required to provide an Immunisation History Statement, but that could be a 'zero'. (In the event of an outbreak, the statements can be used to exclude unvaccinated students until the outbreak has passed.)

 

[oznflfan]

I agree. But telling person A 'you must get vaccinated so person B can take a holiday' seems to be just on the other side of the line?

I'm not across immunisation requirements in other states, but Victoria for example does not require immunisation for primary school. Parents are required to provide an Immunisation History Statement, but that could be a 'zero'. (In the event of an outbreak, the statements can be used to exclude unvaccinated students until the outbreak has passed.)

How about you must get vaccinated so:
*Immigrant A can design the bridge you drive on to go to work.
*Immigrant A can pick the oranges you give your kids in the morning.
*Immigrant A that brings you your coffee at the cafe each monring.
*Immigrant A that brings your baby into the world.
*Immigrant A who does your tax.
*Immigrant A who reduces your power bill by building wind farms.
*Immigrant A who checks you into that hotel for your much needed destress week away in Uluru.

 

[roogirl]

How about you must get vaccinated so:
*Immigrant A can design the bridge you drive on to go to work.
*Immigrant A can pick the oranges you give your kids in the morning.
*Immigrant A that brings you your coffee at the cafe each monring.
*Immigrant A that brings your baby into the world.
*Immigrant A who does your tax.
*Immigrant A who reduces your power bill by building wind farms.
*Immigrant A who checks you into that hotel for your much needed destress week away in Uluru.

Ah, but you see these are all jobs that should be done by true blue Aussies anyway. See also, foreign students. They’re only taking the places of Aussie students anyway.

Thirty years+ of poisonous toxicity against immigrants is really coming home to roost now.

 

[JB expat]

I agree. But telling person A 'you must get vaccinated so person B can take a holiday' seems to be just on the other side of the line?

I'm not across immunisation requirements in other states, but Victoria for example does not require immunisation for primary school. Parents are required to provide an Immunisation History Statement, but that could be a 'zero'. (In the event of an outbreak, the statements can be used to exclude unvaccinated students until the outbreak has passed.)

Person A is getting vaccinated for the benefit of humanity. Person A becomes much less likely to get seriously ill, becomes less likely to spread Covid and less likely to provide a vector for further mutation. It isn’t just about the borders. I think the government should pick a date for opening the borders after vaccine has been fully available for 3 months. Then person A would also be getting the vaccine to keep themselves out of the hospital.

 

[serfty]

I agree. But telling person A 'you must get vaccinated so person B can take a holiday' seems to be just on the other side of the line?

Nup, more like ...

Tell person A "you must get vaccinated because person B who has been vaccinated is 100 times less likely to die from the Virus should you both get infected".

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Nup, more like ...

Tell person A 'you must get vaccinated because person B who has been vaccinated' is 100 times less likely to die from the Virus should you both get infected".

I agree. All the reasons to get vaccinated are valid and worthy on their own. And great incentives to get vaccinated.

But for those who still choose not to, I'm not sure the 'compulsory' line is aligned with the freedoms we expect living in a democracy?

If it was a sole choice between forced vaccinations or allowing travel it would be a tough call. But I think I'd have to go with the freedom to choose (getting vaccinated). But I would also probably leave Australia on a one way ticket!

 

[Pushka]

Ah, but you see these are all jobs that should be done by true blue Aussies anyway. See also, foreign students. They’re only taking the places of Aussie students anyway.

Thirty years+ of poisonous toxicity against immigrants is really coming home to roost now.

People don't seem to realise that the fruit and veg that they serve up to their family, who take care of their folks in nursing homes and hospitals, who do the cleaning, who serve them in cafes and restaurants, are the result of the labours of overseas travellers or backpackers or potential migrants, from overseas. That is why we are desperate here for these people to return when they are vaccinated and it is safe to do so. But people seem to think we can live in a world vacuum.

Post automatically merged: Jun 26, 2021

I agree. All the reasons to get vaccinated are valid and worthy on their own. And great incentives to get vaccinated.

But for those who still choose not to, I'm not sure the 'compulsory' line is aligned with the freedoms we expect living in a democracy?

If it was a sole choice between forced vaccinations or allowing travel it would be a tough call. But I think I'd have to go with the freedom to choose (getting vaccinated). But I would also probably leave Australia on a one way ticket!

We will never agree. Currently SA has banned its own residents from returning to their home if they have been in a Victorian hotspot. You call that a democracy? Hells bells. So it isn't even a case of travelling overseas but simply going about normal life in Australia. We can't get there without vaccination. Small business that works interstate can't keep self financing the cost of interstate trips and work cancellations, then if unlucky, not being able to get their people back to their home state - from a simple trip to Melbourne.

 

[jb747]

I don’t know. I’m really uncomfortable with mandatory vaccination. (Even though I am strongly pro vaxx myself.) It’s a tricky issue.

Not mandatory. You just cannot interact with the rest of society (such as it is) if you aren’t.

As an alternative, we could use Tasmania for its original purpose….