Australian state border restrictions

[jb747]

Hopefully. The electoral threat to the WA government from COVID is now almost non-existent.

They have four years till the next election and whilst a swing away from the state government then is likely it would have to be something extremely catastrophic for the WA government to come anywhere close to losing that election. Labor will probably be in government in WA for at least the next 8 years.

If I recall correctly, the last time we had a state government elected on a huge majority, their behaviour was so bad that they were turfed after the next election. Presumably, somewhere along the way the WA government will have to demonstrate their ability to get their country moving again, as opposed to simply closing borders. Oppositions never win government…it’s always the case that the incumbent loses it.

 

[jakeseven7]

Bet the Feds are so pleased with the way their Tourism funds are going to waste. No one will book interstate trips and have to deal with all the mess of cancellations, after a year of doing all the cancellations.

Mmm I don’t know I’m flying multiple times a week and the airports are getting busier and busier, more flights are being loaded every week.....

 

[mviy]

Bet the Feds are so pleased with the way their Tourism funds are going to waste. No one will book interstate trips and have to deal with all the mess of cancellations, after a year of doing all the cancellations.

The discounted flights don’t start for a couple of weeks. Hopefully in both NSW and QLD there will be limited/no further spread in the community from the current community infections.

If the states slam their borders shut and then cry out for a handout the Feds will tell the states to dig into their own pockets or reopen their borders so the Fed support can work.

 

[Melburnian1]

Sure hope not...

At 3.01am tomorrow (AEDT), all Australian state borders will be open again for the first time in 360 days. It would be a real shame indeed if Australia's internal border-free status lasts just a day or two.

Mattg's article was great but he understated the threats made by various Premiers as to state border clsoures.

Saturday's reelected McGowan and hospitalised Andrews in WA and Victoria respectively have said they wouldn't hesitate to again close borders. Going by what they've done in the past, there wouldn't need to be many 'cases' before that occurs.

Paluszczuk in Queensland has been quiet of late but her record doesn't engender confidence. Nor does Gutwein's in Tasmania, while Marshall in South Australia, probably the second best, shut the door on Victorians quickly at least once.

The only Premier who's consistently stood up against this 'closure mentality' is Berejiklian in NSW. That's where I'll be holidaying given we're effectively banned from travelling overseas.

Travelling interstate by air in particular is risky, because if a Premier gives say 32 hours notice of a border shut (i.e. announces it at 1600 one afternoon to be effective from after 2359 the next night), the big problem is that flights instantly book out, so unless one can hire a car or find a seat on a train, stranding can be the result.

Travelling by road is only risky if you're more than 24 hours away from the state border.

 

[Pushka]

The discounted flights don’t start for a couple of weeks. Hopefully in both NSW and QLD there will be limited/no further spread in the community from the current community infections.

If the states slam their borders shut and then cry out for a handout the Feds will tell the states to dig into their own pockets or reopen their borders so the Fed support can work.

But no one will trust that another outbreak wont occur (and it will) and that states wont lock down immediately.

Post automatically merged: Mar 15, 2021

Mmm I don’t know I’m flying multiple times a week and the airports are getting busier and busier, more flights are being loaded every week.....

But we have seen clear Covid air for a few weeks now. Until the weekend and already Spurrier is threatening (SA)

 

[drron]

Looks like you are going to have to answer the proverbial 20 questions when you visit SA
But again so far is being tied to the advertised contact spots.
So hopefully we have at last come to a slightly more mature approach to State Border closures.But I will wait a few days to make sure.

SA to quiz travellers over new virus cases - Deniliquin Pastoral Times

South Australia is to question travellers from NSW and Queensland amid concerns over new COVID-19 cases in those states.

www.denipt.com.au

 

[Melburnian1]

Unfortunately, this may turn into concrete evidence as to why Mattg was too optimistic in his otherwise good article for AFF:

drron, sadly, you may be opining too soon.

(from 'Herald Sun' website):

'Victorian health officials are weighing up border changes after a security guard working in hotel quarantine in NSW contracted COVID-19.
The health department revealed on Sunday night areas of NSW could be redesignated as red or orange zones as further information emerges about 47-year-old guard who tested positive on Saturday...'

The madness continues!

 

[mviy]

I have a friend who would like to travel to NSW shortly so I’ll certainly be interested in any travel restrictions between VIC and NSW as they may scuttle those plans.

Personally, I don’t intend to travel interstate till the middle of the year. Hopefully by then with much more progress on vaccinations border closures will be less likely.

 

[drron]

Well I have no intention of visiting Victoria this year so they can do whatever they like.
If I am wrong with thinking WA may be more sensible with their borders the only other trips domestically I am thinking about are a road trip to NSW-though never being more than 18 hours from the QLD border and the Indian Pacific at Christmas.Things should be OK by then.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Aiming to cross by road into NSW a few days after getting out of quaro. Crossing into NSW these days has the same thrill as crossing back over the iron curtain .
cheers skip

 

[Indiana]

Yessss!

All borders are open!

Where to first!

 

[ajd]

Sure hope not...

At 3.01am tomorrow (AEDT), all Australian state borders will be open again for the first time in 360 days. It would be a real shame indeed if Australia's internal border-free status lasts just a day or two.

While it's true that all state borders are open as of today, I think it's technically not true that all territory borders are open just yet.

According to the statement from AFP Indian Ocean Territories at A new message from the Territory Controllers – Update 12 March 2021, which as far as I can tell has not yet been superseded, Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands will be reviewing their restrictions on Victoria sometime later this week. They will presumably follow WA, but they have their own emergency management processes to follow.

 

[Nukie]

I am booked to fly to Tassie late April (from WA) . Pass to get in there, pass to get back home. So looking forward to getting on a plane again. Will be distraught if the borders are closed again, especially as no travel insurance seems to cover you for that

 

[jakeseven7]

I am booked to fly to Tassie late April (from WA) . Pass to get in there, pass to get back home. So looking forward to getting on a plane again. Will be distraught if the borders are closed again, especially as no travel insurance seems to cover you for that

If you are with QF you can do free changes so should be fine even if the premiers pull a swifty on you!

 

[PineappleSkip]

Hi pineapple,​

Unfortunately, this time around you were unsuccessful in the Cairns Holiday Dollars voucher ballot.

Looks like I'm going for 1/2 price tickets MCY-SYD instead. Crossing the border adds a note of excitement that BNE-CNS doesn't.

Cheers skip

 

[Pushka]

In making a booking on Qantas just now I had to insert a postcode for 'Tracing'. Didn't have to do that 2 weeks ago.

 

[jakeseven7]

In making a booking on Qantas just now I had to insert a postcode for 'Tracing'. Didn't have to do that 2 weeks ago.

Yea kicked in a week or so ago. I'm so clumsy entering those numbers

 

[Mattg]

Mattg's article was great but he understated the threats made by various Premiers as to state border clsoures.

I don't think this assessment in the article was unfair or inaccurate:

Unfortunately, there is still no 100% guarantee that state borders won’t close again if there’s another outbreak somewhere in the country. While some premiers and Chief Health Officers recently said future border closures would be unlikely, others haven’t made any such commitment yet. But with quarantine, border and health care workers now being vaccinated against COVID-19, the risk will continue to reduce over time.

The good news is that these latest outbreaks still don't look like they're going to cause any border closures. Things could change, and I've said that, but at this stage things are looking good.

 

[antycbr]

I don't think this assessment in the article was unfair or inaccurate:



The good news is that these latest outbreaks still don't look like they're going to cause any border closures. Things could change, and I've said that, but at this stage things are looking good.

The fact that Jobkeeper ends and border closures will be directly accountable to the relevant premier appears to be focussing some state premiers minds about the political risk they face.

 

[jakeseven7]

The fact that Jobkeeper ends and border closures will be directly accountable to the relevant premier appears to be focussing some state premiers minds about the political risk they face.

Yes and somewhat worrying one of our luminary premiers just made themselves the state treasurer as well..... hope this doesn’t mean that border closures will continue and they can tap the state budget at their whim to pay for them!