Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[suze2000]

Does it really surprise anyone that lowly skilled contractor security guards largely left to their own devices have been so prone to becoming infected. The health department really dropped the ball here.

I've been saying this all along. This is the inevitable result of the Liberal's much-touted "more flexible labour market" (more flexible of course being code for more people employed as cheap casuals without benefits or sick leave). This is just another reason neo-liberalism has failed us.

It is interesting that a number of my friends who were big huggers are not doing any physical contact (which is my preference) but others just don't seem to get it and look at me like I'm weird because I don't want to hug

I'm a hugger. And most of my close friends get kissed on the cheek at greeting. And in Europe, we do it twice. I really feel weird not being able to do these things, but OTOH, I also like not being sick and not being responsible for making others unwell. I *was* planning to visit my mother in August and I said to her on the phone, there'll be no hugging as I'm coming from MEL on a plane and she said, "not even a quick one when you arrive?" And that's not because she's not aware of the risks, but because she wants to hold her child.

So it was an Eid celebration at end of Ramadan that created the Coburg cluster.

I worked that out for myself based on the suburbs named, then struggled with my feelings of resentment and anger towards that group because it felt racist.

And I was also angry with the govt because Blind Freddie could have told them that the relaxation of the limits just before Eid was a mistake.

I am also angry because I live in one of the LGAs that have been locked down and we would like to get on with our lives. But we've been locked down, I really hope that now they've named the individual suburbs involved that we'll get to go out again because they are not our suburb.

 

[jakeseven7]

I am also angry because I live in one of the LGAs that have been locked down and we would like to get on with our lives. But we've been locked down, I really hope that now they've named the individual suburbs involved that we'll get to go out again because they are not our suburb.

To be clear, you haven't been locked down... neither have the suburbs they are concentrating on assisting....

If you choose to lock yourself down, that is your decision entirely of course.

 

[blackcat20]

No one in Vic is on lockdown, just recommendations to limit movement in and out of those areas.

 

[Pushka]

I worked that out for myself based on the suburbs named, then struggled with my feelings of resentment and anger towards that group because it felt racist

I don't know local Melbourne all that much.

I don't see that identifying a risk cluster group is racist. I'd likewise avoid Surfers Paradise at Schoolies time. If I was a snow bunny then the snowfields would be out for me this year. I'd avoid going into the Chinese markets of an outbreak occurred in Chinese communities. I avoided my own suburb until the baggage handlers issue was resolved. I'd not go to a swimming pool in a cluster site.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I worked that out for myself based on the suburbs named, then struggled with my feelings of resentment and anger towards that group because it felt racist.

I know that there seems to be some on this forum hinting that it is people of the muslim faith, but please remember that the most common schools that are closed at present are the catholic ones. So there are covid 19 positive people of many faiths and no doubt atheists too.

Family orientated lowly paid people seem to be the main drivers of this current spike.

Normally being family orientated would be a good thing, but with Covid 19 it is a bad thing. Likewise with religious gatherings.

The more that people mix with close contact the higher risk of transmission.


People not isolating properly has certainly not helped.

 

[suze2000]

No one in Vic is on lockdown, just recommendations to limit movement in and out of those areas.

Yes, but as a good citizen, when we have been told to limit movement out of our LGA, that's what we are doing. Sure if I wanted to go to a local restaurant, I could do that, and know I was complying, but we wanted to head out to the country this weekend for some fresh air.

 

[blackcat20]

Yes, but as a good citizen, when we have been told to limit movement out of our LGA, that's what we are doing. Sure if I wanted to go to a local restaurant, I could do that, and know I was complying, but we wanted to head out to the country this weekend for some fresh air.

You're still allowed, as long as you follow the social distancing requirements.

 

[get me outta here]

I have no idea what faith any are, I was responding to somebody else’s comment that it seem to be celebrations for EID, but I don’t know where that information came from in the first place.

Numbers need to be tightly limited for meetings of any sort, sports of any sort, etc.

I know that there seems to be some on this forum hinting that it is people of the muslim faith, but please remember that the most common schools that are closed at present are the catholic ones. So there are covid 19 positive people of many faiths and no doubt atheists too.

Family orientated lowly paid people seem to be the main drivers of this current spike.

Normally being family orientated would be a good thing, but with Covid 19 it is a bad thing. Likewise with religious gatherings.

The more that people mix with close contact the higher risk of transmission.


People not isolating properly has certainly not helped.

 

[jase05]

I have no idea what faith any are, I was responding to somebody else’s comment that it seem to be celebrations for EID, but I don’t know where that information came from in the first place.

Apparently officials believe the “Coburg cluster” started from a family religious gathering.

NoCookies | The Australian

www.theaustralian.com.au

 

[suze2000]

You're still allowed, as long as you follow the social distancing requirements.

Well that's not the message Uncle Dan was peddling. "Limit travel" doesn't include a jaunt up to Kyneton and lunch, surely?

 

[Pushka]

Apparently officials believe the “Coburg cluster” started from a family religious gathering.

NoCookies | The Australian

www.theaustralian.com.au

And if it was an Eid celebration then likely of Muslim faith and which other than the timing, that fact isn't relevant. But the location of the celebrations certainly are as areas to avoid at the moment.

 

[dajop]

The current Victorian restrictions are a bit of a dog's breakfast. We have bookings for both coming weekends for exclusive use of our holiday house by separate groups (both >10). On Sunday both groups wanted to cancel, by Tuesday morning both had reconsidered as the language on the website and the legal instrument in force (Restricted Activities No 10) permitted up to 20 people per booking at places of accommodation including holiday houses (airbnbs etc)

Now today the website has dropped it to 10 as maximum, but the legal instrument, which is still in force has not changed and indicates 20. If there are are contradictions between advice and law on a simple thing like this - the whole thing is likely a dogs breakfast. Someone needs to sort this s*&@(# out.

 

[Steady]

This is the inevitable result of the Liberal's much-touted "more flexible labour market" (more flexible of course being code for more people employed as cheap casuals without benefits or sick leave).

I do not understand the cheap casuals comment, wasn't the flexible labour market change about cutting/reducing overtime rates? (A genuine query, if it was just a political rant - no need to answer )

My experience is that when I employ someone either under an award or agreement, a casual is paid 25% more than a permanent hire - that is 25% base rate so it attracts overtime - T1/2, DT, Night Shift etc, 25% more super, + more for WC premiums and payroll tax. A casual is more flexible for our short term work (1-6+ months) as at the end of a short term position I don't need to pay a weeks wages in notice, but they are not cheaper. It is cheaper to employ permanents as most dont use all of their sick leave entitlements. The 25% loading has been there since I entered the workforce to cover sick/annual/personal leave and PH's, I expect it was fought hard for by the unions well before I came about. Almost all of my employees now come and go on construction work and want to be paid (specifically request ) a casual rate as they believe they are better off.

Prior to the "more flexible labour market" change you reference, would these employees have been paid when not working due to illness?

 

[Pushka]

I've been saying this all along. This is the inevitable result of the Liberal's much-touted "more flexible labour market" (more flexible of course being code for more people employed as cheap casuals without benefits or sick leave). This is just another reason neo-liberalism has failed us.

Have no idea why politics came into that so strongly but in our business people have been offered jobs, as has SIL who works in a large public hospital and they flatly refuse to consider change to employment versus casual contract.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Apparently officials believe the “Coburg cluster” started from a family religious gathering.

NoCookies | The Australian

www.theaustralian.com.au

Yes that is one of the many clusters in the hotspot areas, and again it is not just muslims that are getting infected.

The virus does not care what color, race or religion you are. But it loves people that mix and gather without social distancing.

 

[Pushka]

The virus does not care what color, race or religion you are.

Of course. When has that ever been in doubt?

 

[drron]

Another who would lose out if I had to take a permanent contract.In tasmania especially there are a few physicians who are full time casual and resist going to a permanent job.reason tassie pays less than other states for permanent positions but has to pay the going rate for casuals otherwise we would go elsewhere-and there still are some jobs elsewhere that don't get filled.

 

[jakeseven7]

Of course. When has that ever been in doubt?

Sigh. Agree. Hysteria.

 

[suze2000]

My point about casuals is that they do not get paid for sick days, therefore are more likely to continue to work when sick, and resist testing in case they are forced to stop working. (also keep in mind that you only get your $1500 if you test positive, which means 2-3 days off work while you await the test result with no work).

I'm not talking about contract positions that are highly paid, but casuals on zero-hour contracts, earning close to the minimum wage, who can have shifts cut at any time by their employer for any perceived or real infraction.

 

[p--and--t]

My point about casuals is that they do not get paid for sick days, therefore are more likely to continue to work when sick, and resist testing in case they are forced to stop working. (also keep in mind that you only get your $1500 if you test positive, which means 2-3 days off work while you await the test result with no work).

I'm not talking about contract positions that are highly paid, but casuals on zero-hour contracts, earning close to the minimum wage, who can have shifts cut at any time by their employer for any perceived or real infraction.

Yep there are casuals at both ends of the spectrum and various places in between. Some are on a very good wicket and some are on the bones of their proverbial. Some are working full weeks on great pay, some are working very variable hours sometimes less than 8hrs pw on dreadful pay & conditions

Can't classify everyone into one bundle.