Australian state border restrictions

[jrfsp]

well the PM just said he wants 0 cases in the community so i cant see anyone opening up to NSW

 

[SYD]

I don’t know how but you would have to think that there must be some mechanism of the Federal Govt getting involved here and stopping this “extreme” nonsense.

What sort of world are we living in here ?
An Aussie Expat from NSW could fly back into PER from Florida etc and quarantine for 14 days.
But anyone from anywhere in NSW can’t ?

I want voted off the island soon.

Meanwhile, NSW is still doing the heavy lifting of what’s left of the paltry international arrivals caps. With the way some of this silliness is going, it might be time that NSW only takes locals?

Other state residents trying to return from OS are probably self-selecting to avoid NSW anyway, but good luck trying to get in elsewhere….

 

[Seat0B]

That's already the situation for Tasmanians. I live in Tasmania and have essential traveller status. If I set foot in NSW, I can't come home, even if I was willing to quarantine for fourteen days.

Well at least fair warning has been given.

If I had to get to WA in an emergency, I'd be getting an exemption to fly to Singapore and then return to WA as an international traveller.

I just cannot believe we have sunk to this.

There is no such thing as ‘fair warning’ to be locked out of your state of residence, with no idea when that restriction will be lifted. Certainly it’s better to be fore-warned than for it to be retrospective, but there is absolutely nothing fair about this state of affairs at all, with state being the operative word.

 

[Seat0B]

I don’t know how but you would have to think that there must be some mechanism of the Federal Govt getting involved here and stopping this “extreme” nonsense.

What sort of world are we living in here ?
An Aussie Expat from NSW could fly back into PER from Florida etc and quarantine for 14 days.
But anyone from anywhere in NSW can’t ?

I want voted off the island soon.

We have certainly lost the plot. These people have turned into tin pot dictators with way too much power over our everyday lives, and no common sense, empathy or understanding. For me, the state and the country have severely damaged my trust in them, and I feel like I will never get that back. My parents and grandparents experienced something similar during the Great Depression, and I never really understood. Unfortunately, now I do. I really don’t want to live like this any more.

 

[Seat0B]

well the PM just said he wants 0 cases in the community so i cant see anyone opening up to NSW

Where is the angry emoji response

 

[nutwood]

We have certainly lost the plot. These people have turned into tin pot dictators with way too much power over our everyday lives, and no common sense, empathy or understanding. For me, the state and the country have severely damaged my trust in them, and I feel like I will never get that back. My parents and grandparents experienced something similar during the Great Depression, and I never really understood. Unfortunately, now I do. I really don’t want to live like this any more.

Your point is very valid. Ultimately the biggest problem resulting from Covid may not be dealing with the virus but rather, how to deal with the politicians.
These days, no-one goes into politics without at least a touch of megalomania and recently, hasn't the slip been showing!

 

[SydneySwan]

well the PM just said he wants 0 cases in the community so i cant see anyone opening up to NSW

You are probably right about other Australian states. However plenty of countries will let us in.

 

[nutwood]

Correct, interstate border restrictions are for sure worst they've ever been.
I am doing 3-4-3-5 weeks FIFO roster from Gold Coast to Broome (+ 2hr helicopter flight) and last year it was always possible via HQ in Perth at least.
Now I only managed to get there driving Gold Coast to Alice Springs, 2 weeks camping around Top End and than fly direct Darwin to Broome.
Now I ran out of options! So just going to skip next rotation with Leave without pay which will take me to December.
My only hope is 80% vaccination target to be achieved in WA by that time with arrival caps significantly increased. From Singapore at least
I am 99% sure QLD will be swollen by Delta very shortly same as NSW and VIC within one month from now.

I can only sympathise. At the start of Covid it was cool. Be sensible, keep your distance, sanitise; it was a problem that could be lived with. It's just gone down hill from then.

 

[jase05]

You are probably right about other Australian states. However plenty of countries will let us in.

You are kidding yourself if you think 1 state will open to International travel before any election. Political suicide

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

You are kidding yourself if you think 1 state will open to International travel before any election. Political suicide

Don't you think the mood in NSW is different???

 

[justinbrett]

You are kidding yourself if you think 1 state will open to International travel before any election. Political suicide

If you recall NSW was the first to open to NZ, none of the other states wanted to. They eventually followed.

That's how it will happen. Federal government will open the borders, let the states decide which countries can come in without quarantine.

Opening at 80% is the plan. It will be political suicide to backtrack on that. The states against this are not facing elections (except SA).

I actually think VIC will be right next to NSW in wanting to open to the world once 80% vax is reached.

 

[justinbrett]

But we have a Federal election. The states are rapidly moving away from the Libs and they are a very real chance of being absolutely routed. States are already playing off against the Feds.
The knives are already out for Gladys from within her own party and the Feds so she might be the poor scapegoat out of this

You missed it completely. People don't want to be locked down after 80%. That was the deal. People are getting vaccinated now and expect freedom.

It's really got nothing to do with what the state premiers say. And, as I said, I think you'll find VIC, the leftest state we have, will be standing right next to Gladys on opening up after 80%. The two largest states, well over half the population. And I think there will be plenty of people in QLD & WA that will support opening up.

Also makes no sense, if WA is closed to NSW, and the feds allow arrivals to certain states from UK, Singapore, USA etc (safe countries), why would WA get upset? They didn't get upset about NZ, they just chose not to open to NZ.

 

[Must...Fly!]

And, as I said, I think you'll find VIC, will be standing right next to Gladys on opening up after 80%.

If popular opinion goes that way then I agree, though it will be with significant restraint.

The premier has wedded his political career to returning to covid zero. It will take quite some shift internally, I believe. I do think it will happen.

 

[justinbrett]

If popular opinion goes that way then I agree, though it will be with significant restraint.

The premier has wedded his political career to returning to covid zero. It will take quite some shift internally, I believe. I do think it will happen.

Based on his comments before lockdown, I would say he wants to get to covid zero, 80%, open up, stop reporting case numbers.

He's actually been one of the most pragmatic leaders in terms of living with covid once the vaccination rollout is complete (he even said we just have to offer the vaccine, if people chose not to take it, we're not going to delay opening for them).

The current talk about covid zero is to stop this outbreak getting any bigger before the vaccine rollout is complete. It's very different to the covid zero coming from QLD & WA (funny they're both well behind in the vaccines...)

 

[twiningb]

He's actually been one of the most pragmatic leaders in terms of living with covid once the vaccination rollout is complete (he even said we just have to offer the vaccine, if people chose not to take it, we're not going to delay opening for them).

 

[jase05]

People don't want to be locked down after 80%. That was the deal. People are getting vaccinated now and expect freedom.

Absolutely some of us do but I don’t think the majority of Australians think like that. I reckon you will find the overwhelming majority want tougher restrictions when it comes to international arrivals unfortunately. As much as I’d love everything to open up before Christmas I still think it’s a pipe dream and that we are 6-8 months away from quarantine free travel at a minimum

 

[justinbrett]

Absolutely some of us do but I don’t think the majority of Australians think like that. I reckon you will find the overwhelming majority want tougher restrictions when it comes to international arrivals unfortunately. As much as I’d love everything to open up before Christmas I still think it’s a pipe dream and that we are 6-8 months away from quarantine free travel at a minimum

I think you're wrong, and what I'm suggesting is already in the national plan that (supposedly) all the leaders agreed on

This starts at 80%:

Exempt vaccinated residents from all domestic restrictions
Abolish caps on returning vaccinated Australians
Allow increased capped entry of student, economic, and humanitarian visa holders
Lift all restrictions on outbound travel for vaccinated Australians
Extend travel bubble for unrestricted travel to new candidate countries (Singapore, Pacific)
Gradual reopening of inward and outward international travel, with safe countries and proportionate quarantine and reduced requirements for fully vaccinated inbound travellers.

Look at the wall in the post Princess Fiona posted in the vaccine thread. That's the view of the public.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Absolutely some of us do but I don’t think the majority of Australians think like that. I reckon you will find the overwhelming majority want tougher restrictions when it comes to international arrivals unfortunately. As much as I’d love everything to open up before Christmas I still think it’s a pipe dream and that we are 6-8 months away from quarantine free travel at a minimum

Its a double edged sword.

If people are allowed to leave Australia and their home State forces them to do quarantine - its not going to be much different to doing quarantine for going to NSW.

But for NSW, ACT and maybe Vic, they can leave Australia and won't have to do paid quarantine (may be first step is 14 home quarantine, second step is no quarantine).

I'm pretty sure it will be illustrated to be a State issue rather than national issue

 

[jase05]

I think you're wrong, and what I'm suggesting is already in the national plan that (supposedly) all the leaders agreed on

This starts at 80%:

Exempt vaccinated residents from all domestic restrictions
Abolish caps on returning vaccinated Australians
Allow increased capped entry of student, economic, and humanitarian visa holders
Lift all restrictions on outbound travel for vaccinated Australians
Extend travel bubble for unrestricted travel to new candidate countries (Singapore, Pacific)
Gradual reopening of inward and outward international travel, with safe countries and proportionate quarantine and reduced requirements for fully vaccinated inbound travellers.

Look at the wall in the post Princess Fiona posted in the vaccine thread. That's the view of the public.

I too hope for that but I just don’t see it happening to that timeframe. Hope I’m wrong

 

[justinbrett]

I too hope for that but I just don’t see it happening to that timeframe. Hope I’m wrong

I really think you are. The best chance Scott Morrison has is to go to the election with the covid in the rear vision mirror getting smaller.

The "I kept you safe" nonsense may have worked in 2020/2021 but won't work in 2022. If he tries to go to the election with Fortress Australia he will lose on two fronts. At least opening up, it will be fought on traditional issues.

And I think you're wrong on public opinion. Just look at Sydney and Melbourne. People are over it. They are more afraid of the government (lockdowns) than the virus. Might be a different situation in the smaller states, but I wouldn't think by much.