Anyone here with family in Western Australia?

[nc777]

Just thought I'd start a support thread for us separated from our families hidden behind the Hermit Kingdom of Western Australia.

Any idea when the borders will reopen?

My parents haven't seen my young DC for almost 2 years now.

Just me then

Not family, but my best friend is there and she's a mixture of depressed and enraged. Her parents haven't ever met her youngest who is about 15 months now. I only ever saw her about every other year, but we're overdue and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight. Fucking sucks!

My neighbours usually go and see their son and his family after Christmas every other year and he comes over every other year in the summer. It will soon be 3 years since they went over to see them.

Not family but my best friend. Haven't seen her in years now and she hasn't met my youngest.

Yes, I have family there. I haven’t met my niece and nephew. 2.5 years since I’ve seen my brother. Hoping may be next year but not holding my breath.

Reopening plans are likely to be announced soon, but don't be surprised if your family & friends aren't on the first flights out.
It's been really easy here, literally zero deaths for the last 18+ months, no community transmission, life has been entirely normal other than a few short (3 or 5 day) lockdowns, kids have missed hardly any school, economy is booming, no masks or restrictions.
Lots of people think that all of that has been worth the price of no overseas travel unless you apply for exemptions.

I have some WA envy. I am in SA and opening before we hit 90% vaccinated makes me so nervous especially for the indigenous population. WA will open when it’s safe and I sort of wish I was there and didn’t have 4 weeks before it all get scary (work in healthcare so yes it will impact me hugely) Give it a few months and WA will open and it will have been the safest place in the world. Short term pain and all that

My Dad lived there. He was supposed to come over in March but obvs couldn't. Was diagnosed with a brain tumour in April and died in July. We couldn't fly out to see him when he was sick. It was shit.

@tattychicken so sorry for your loss.

Hi OP - I'm in Tasmania but it's not looking good for WA to open aligned with all states.

The WA Premier has declared that he wants to wait and see what happens in other states that reopen. And leave it a couple of months.

Even Tassie is committed to reopening December 15 when meeting 90% double vaxxed. But there will also be a negative PCR test required to enter from other states.

WA is also lagging in vaccination rates compared to the rest of Australia.

I personally can't see this reopening happening until at least February next year. And I cannot see quarantine free travel like NSW and VIC.

It's further complicated by a woeful hospital system, worst ICU beds per person in Australia. The heath system was already on its knees before COVID. It's even worse than Tassie which is saying something.

In the Times today it said that WA would not open until June next year. I don't know if that is remotely accurate though.

McGowen says “don’t even think about escaping!” 🙄

🙄

I’m in WA. I’m ok in hiding at the moment theoretically, but I did have a little grumble watching the news last night at all the easterners travelling again.

It is what it is. Our vaccinations rates are shit.

I watched an old episode of Long Lost Family tonight.
The older brother, whom the siblings had never met, lwas found in Australia. Ncky flewout to tell him about his dad's family then five days later, he flew to England to meet them.
It really made me think about how easy even long distace travel was pre-Covid, ad to wonder if he has seen any of his half-siblings since March last year.

@BenJackinoff

I’m in WA. I’m ok in hiding at the moment theoretically, but I did have a little grumble watching the news last night at all the easterners travelling again.

It is what it is. Our vaccinations rates are shit.

My understanding is huge swathes of West Aussies agree with hard borders. I don't get it. Why? Don't you want to travel? Don't you have family who live abroad? Or friends who have family who live abroad and are desperate to see them?

@MargaretRiver

Reopening plans are likely to be announced soon, but don't be surprised if your family & friends aren't on the first flights out. It's been really easy here, literally zero deaths for the last 18+ months, no community transmission, life has been entirely normal other than a few short (3 or 5 day) lockdowns, kids have missed hardly any school, economy is booming, no masks or restrictions. Lots of people think that all of that has been worth the price of no overseas travel unless you apply for exemptions.

Ok, but we have no masks or restrictions here 🤷🏼‍♀️

My sister lives in WA and she says a lot of folk are happy with how things are. They have no covid, no restrictions on day to day life and no economic impact. People are quite happy living in their wee health and economic bubble.

Yes I want to do all those things, but we are currently living a covid free existence. We literally have zero cases. I don’t want to go back to masks and social distancing and overflowing hospitals and people dying and no one getting medical care because the hospitals are full of covid patients. Travelling and holidays just aren’t worth it right now.

Yes my brother and family.

@BenJackinoff

Yes I want to do all those things, but we are currently living a covid free existence. We literally have zero cases. I don’t want to go back to masks and social distancing and overflowing hospitals and people dying and no one getting medical care because the hospitals are full of covid patients. Travelling and holidays just aren’t worth it right now.

In that case, I don't see WA ever reopening its borders. Not for another 5+ years anyway.

Of course it will. When people get vaccinated. We are currently only at 60%.

Is that 60% of everyone, or 60% of people over 18? 15? My friend in Sydney says that the numbers are being fudged.

@BenJackinoff

Of course it will. When people get vaccinated. We are currently only at 60%.

But even at 80% vaxxed you'll still have people catching, and sadly, dying of Covid. Would WA accept that? After so long of being Covid free?

60% over 12, as far as I know.

Look I dunno, I don’t have all the answers. I just know I’m OK with being covid free for as long as we can sustain that. I’m sure the pushback will come eventually and we will open up.

I’m not exactly envious of the rest of the world where infection rates are still high and hospitals are overwhelmed, and people are dying.

We will be able to travel again, it’s not forever.