Apparently there are over 2000 AFL entities in Qld right now. Of course some include the players.
This hypocrisy of exempting so called important people has become the biggest issue with me now following all the rules other than those which I consider to make sense (I do come from a conservative approach though). TV personalities, Sports people, blah blah. All States have done this, it isnt a Lib/Lab thing.
Firstly are we really talking about "important" people, or are we really talking about industry segments?
I don't think that you can really lump them into the one category.
As far as I am aware the TV personalities (ie Dannir, Nicole Kidman), and only a few, managed to gain permission to quarantine at home provided they paid the cost and met other provisions. But this was only for the period of the quarantine. After the 14 days they have to follow the same rules as other people in the state that they are in. Should they have been able to do this. Well I think that this is one criteria and can be argued to be "unfair".
The Simonds Homes magnate who inappropriately entered Qld, and who also stopped at various NSW ports along the way is quite rightly being dealt with and is the subject of a criminal investigation.
However if it genuinely about work for a particular industry, then to my way of thinking it is an entirely different matter.
In Vic all in the media (and most likely in all states) qualified for work under stage 4 as long as they met Covidsafe requirements , and while much was made of The Masked Singer, Vaudrey a manufacturing business with the same exemption, but which had a much higher number of cases at 44, no one batted an eyelid about.
Should the media restrictions be tighter? Well I think that is a reasonable argument one can make. But to just wipe it because some of the workers being famous I do not believe is valid.
Also what is an exemption in terms of it being more generous?
With the AFL, NRL, Netball, soccer bubbles the people involved (including family members) have to stay within the bubble and meet strict conditions including being tested for CV19 twice a week. They cannot just follow the general restrictions of the state they are residing in. They cannot mix with people outside of the bubble, or enjoy non-bubble activities unless they are run in particular ways. They cannot go in and out of it without 14 day quarantine each time
While the life of these sporting people may sound glamorous, they have had to surrender personal freedoms that others in the same state do not have to do it. Many have to live apart from partners and friends, including pregnant partners.
All the while we let cases of genuine medical or hardship needs just put in the cold.
I don't thing one wrong becomes a reason to make other wrongs. I think we need to strive to improve all things where it can reasonably be done so.
ie I personally think the whole "border bubble towns" issue has been handled very poorly.
WA made special arrangements for FIFO to help keep the mining industry going. Very sensible in my opinion. One reason why FIFO, Sport, Construction and other industries have been allowed to continue is that the private second can fund the cost of the measures required. Those in the public glare have followed the measures. Unfortunately some such as abattoirs have not. So the out of site industries have been a bigger problem that those in the public gaze.
I know that many disagree but I believe the AFL, NRL, Netball, soccer bubbles are just part of an industry that has been allowed to continue provided struct rules were adhered too and that is has benefits for all Australians and not just those who like sport.
And no Joe-public fans like myself cannot just pop interstate to watch a game, but then those outside of Vic we are also not living in CV19 bubbles getting tested twice each week. And ones in Vic like myself are completely non-gratis.
. Bad luck for you though if you want to go watch your team play - I suspect there will be no such exemption for you!
