Australia/New Zealand New Thread

[Kokeshi123]

www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/09/pandemic-australia-still-liberal-democracy/619940/

Intrastate travel within Australia is also severely restricted. And the government of South Australia, one of the country’s six states, developed and is now testing an app as Orwellian as any in the free world to enforce its quarantine rules. People in South Australia will be forced to download an app that combines facial recognition and geolocation. The state will text them at random times, and thereafter they will have 15 minutes to take a picture of their face in the location where they are supposed to be. Should they fail, the local police department will be sent to follow up in person. “We don’t tell them how often or when, on a random basis they have to reply within 15 minutes,” Premier Steven Marshall explained. “I think every South Australian should feel pretty proud that we are the national pilot for the home-based quarantine app.”

This is... really really disturbing, honestly.

I grew up admiring (and, let's be honest, envying) Australians because as a nation, they always came across as a down-to-earth, fearless lot who had a healthy skepticism of authority while also being basically very civic/community minded.

What's gone wrong?

Australia international flights started back yesterday and I have to say, outbound planes were much fuller than inbound from what I could see on the news.
There has also been some confusion as to what testing requirements are needed for inbound travelers. The information has not been clear, at this stage they are supposed to test at 24 hours after arrival and then again at day 7. In between they are supposed to avoid high risk areas including hospitality venues. Premier says they may review that as he was unaware of some rules 🥴
Anybody making the trek?

@kohby190 I've got a family member en route to the UK at the moment. Photos he sent of the airport and plane were dead empty. Recently recovered from covid in this house so know we are safe for him but worried he will catch it here out and about and not manage to get home. However I'm not convinced borders will stay open, what if there is a new variant etc. So I encouraged him to come visit ASAP.

We want to come out to oz next june but not sure we can afford all 4 of us. Or if it will even happen....

@Emsmaman did he fly from NSW or VIC?
I think people are being cautious for sure, our government is known for backflips and no one wants to be locked out or in for that matter.
Funny you mention new variants, NSW has just identified delta plus and are “keeping a close eye on it”.

@WholeClassKeptIn the cost is crazy especially when you add in all the testing per person and that’s assuming everyone is negative.

I think the government will be keeping a close eye on booster uptake, we’ve just started for 18+ so if that’s not good I wouldn’t be surprised if they implemented restrictions again come winter.

@Kohby190 from Vic. Just mad to think a few short weeks ago he was in lockdown in Mel and now he can travel internationally, while other states stay firmly shut. I think London will be a little overwhelming for him!

Ah yes, the most locked down city in the world to London will be a shock but maybe a good thing to get back into seeing normalcy as opposed to Dan Andrew’s regime. I hope you all throughly enjoy being reunited ❤️

Thank you, I still can't believe he managed to get here and we have spent the evening in the same room!

@Kohby190

Ah yes, the most locked down city in the world to London will be a shock but maybe a good thing to get back into seeing normalcy as opposed to Dan Andrew’s regime. I hope you all throughly enjoy being reunited ❤️

Daniel Andrews does not head a "regime".

That is the term for a dictatorship.

@Emsmaman

Thank you, I still can't believe he managed to get here and we have spent the evening in the same room!

So very jealous!!! Have a wonderful time.

Hope no borders close before the 2/12 so that DS can escape from NSW!

My parents have tickets to fly to Melbourne in January but no idea if they'll get visas in time. They're talking about processing times of 8-22 months!

I’m happy for those that can finally visit family again but as someone who will be traveling for holiday I’m not sure when I’m going to take the plunge on international travel from Australia. Not even sure if South Australia where I live has fully decided on when quarantine free international travel restarts anyway.

As far as I know SA goes to a 7 day quarantine for fully vaxed international arrivals on 23/11 ( I can’t see any clarification if that can be home quarantine but I’m sure I read somewhere it could be)

Once the state reaches 90% vaxed there will be no quarantine requirements for fully vaxed international travelers.

Just wondering if anyone (apart from Emsmaman) had heard of anyone getting to the UK following the opening of borders? DS is due to fly beginning of December, and I'm still dreading him being stopped!

@Ajanddjmum I know a few people who have left NSW to fly overseas. All have made it to final destinations without any drama.

[quote user1471499545]@Ajanddjmum I know a few people who have left NSW to fly overseas. All have made it to final destinations without any drama.[/quote]
That's great to hear - thank you user. Fingers crossed for everyone that no rules change soon!

Any local updates? Has omicron changed things? Have restrictions been relaxed?

www.theage.com.au/national/australia-news-live-two-omicron-covid-19-variant-cases-in-sydney-victoria-nsw-consider-reintroducing-mandatory-quarantine-20211128-p59cx4.html

It's big catch-up article. Look at Victoria and changed isolation rules.

Sigh. Just as South Australia opens the borders we get the fucking variant. There are already calls for borders to be shut again. It’s just exhausting. At this stage I’m more scared o&the government response than I am of Covid.

Had a meeting at work today and a colleague was saying that we need to prepare for more lockdowns because ‘look at Europe’. Are we really going back to ‘look at New York / Italy / India’ again? I had a bit of a hissy fit and called him a drama llama in front of everyone. Not my finest moment

Still, the way some people in Adelaide are acting when there isn’t even any community transmission here at the moment is ridiculous. I have to wear a mask in the office apart from when I’m at my desk. I try to avoid wearing one as much as possible. The other day I put off going to the toilet as long as possible and when I finally went I’d started my period and my underwear was blood soaked. Lucky I was wearing a black skirt and have a black chair.

@WoodenReindeer the federal govt have delayed the border opening from 1december to at least 15 December to see what unfolds with this new variant. It's already here though, and with it being more infectious than delta it will still spread obviously.
All international arrivals need to isolate for 72 hours pending testing, and flights from the 9 South African countries have been stopped.

@GerbilCurse

My parents have tickets to fly to Melbourne in January but no idea if they'll get visas in time. They're talking about processing times of 8-22 months

I hate to put a dampener on your parents’ trip but myself and DS have been waiting since August 2020 for our visa to visit DH’s family (travelling with Aussie DH).

There’s absolutely no way to find out how far along we are… it’s coming up 16 months!

They got their visas through last week fortunately. Still a few other hurdles but at least they don't need to worry about that bit

What type of visa did they apply for? I need to get on to the immigration!!

A 600 visa

Australia has been opening up more. I finally got to Adelaide last weekend to see my mother after 5 months. We are now all holding our breath about omicron and hoping it doesn't set everything back. Covid seems to be racing through schools and Kinders here in Melbourne.