Australian state border restrictions

[HappyFlyerFamily]

And of course the WA requirements for entry for those lucky enough to be approved, require the successful hunt for a RAT.

SMS message received following G2G application:

Thankfully my niece has managed to buy a RAT from a pharmac_ in preparation for her long drive home. Timing the 24 hours before crossing the SA-WA border will be a bit of a challenge. The communicaiton was not "within 24 hours", but specifically says "24 hours prior to arrival". Lets hope there is no unexpected delay in the last 24 hours of travel before crossing the border.

Since driving, perhaps aim for 23 hours prior

 

[Port Power]

Such a comment is as dangerous as it is naive. We pay politicians to make these hard decisions. If WA is going down the path of trying to eradicate death, then there’s been some major change in human evolution that I’ve not been made aware of.

Aside from a tiny majority of covid-cling ons, I believe most people have the sense to realize that a global pandemic will sadly equal the loss of some people. Anybody who can’t accept that is probably a touch beyond unhinged, and for the leader of the state to believe it is somewhat terrifying.

But really, that is not an easy question to answer. If he gives a percentage, there will be huge criticism about that figure. Other politicians around the world have been asked the same question over the years and were vilified whatever their answer. Of course we would prefer no one to die of Covid, but it does and will continue to happen. Only medicos get away with these sorts of statistical statements.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

But really, that is not an easy question to answer. If he gives a percentage, there will be huge criticism about that figure. Other politicians around the world have been asked the same question over the years and were vilified whatever their answer. Of course we would prefer no one to die of Covid, but it does and will continue to happen. Only medicos get away with these sorts of statistical statements.

....and most epidemiological guesses/modelling have been wrong - mostly guesses have been too high.

The only time it was really too low was the NSW Health Minister saying in early December that it could reach 25k positives per day by end of January I think - ended up just around 50k (historical RAT+ induced got to under 100k) in mid January.

 

[oz_mark]

But really, that is not an easy question to answer. If he gives a percentage, there will be huge criticism about that figure. Other politicians around the world have been asked the same question over the years and were vilified whatever their answer. Of course we would prefer no one to die of Covid, but it does and will continue to happen. Only medicos get away with these sorts of statistical statements.

Yes, but he has to a large extent painted himself into the corner with his past rhetoric. It will be interesting to see how he spins himself out of this one, and gets the border open.

I have a feeling it will be more about cases growing to a point that the border is meaningless.

 

[Long_20]

A floundering Mark McGowan faces barrage of questions as WA border remains firmly shut​

After a week that saw a just a single COVID-19 case close a school and Western Australia likened to North Korea, it is hard to believe WA's borders were supposed to open today.

When the reopening date was announced on December 13, former WA Health Minister Roger Cook warned the state's COVID-free bubble was "about to burst".

With Omicron rapidly spreading in Western Australia, the bubble has already burst but the border remains shut, many argue for purely political reasons.

Confusion and inconsistencies reign supreme on day WA was set to reopen

Today is the day Western Australia was supposed to reconnect with the world, but major disruptions in schools and ongoing confusion about who is allowed into the state indicates it wasn't ready to open.

www.abc.net.au

He is getting frustrated about being questioned about the borders? I wonder if he can imagine how people impacted by the closed borders must feel...

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Yes, but he has to a large extent painted himself into the corner with his past rhetoric. It will be interesting to see how he spins himself out of this one, and gets the border open.

I have a feeling it will be more about cases growing to a point that the border is meaningless.

Perhaps 500 per day (7-day average) would ring too much alike to an extreme risk jurisdiction

 

[NM]

Since driving, perhaps aim for 23 hours prior

I suggested that she plan to arrive at the border village road house and take the RAT there. If the border officers tell her that it must be 24 hours prior, then roll out the swag in front of them and set the alarm for 24 hours, noting that the result of the RAT taken 30 mins ago is not going to change during the next day .

Surely logic says that a negative RAT taken any time in the previous 24 hours should be acceptable, and the closer to the actual arrival actually makes more sense. But that is not what the official communication states.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

I suggested that she plan to arrive at the border village road house and take the RAT there. If the border officers tell her that it must be 24 hours prior, then roll out the swag in front of them and set the alarm for 24 hours, noting that the result of the RAT taken 30 mins ago is not going to change during the next day .

Surely logic says that a negative RAT taken any time in the previous 24 hours should be acceptable, and the closer to the actual arrival actually makes more sense. But that is not what the official communication states.

RATs are not timestamped.....

 

[Must...Fly!]

Dunno how this flew under my radar yesterday...

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1489555829753724929

‘GOLD’: Australia goes nuts for The West’s satirical splash

All of Australia is talking about the front page of The West Australian’s Saturday edition, which featured ‘nine-time election winner’ Mark McGowan finally reopening WA’s hard border.

www.perthnow.com.au

 

[nutwood]

The guy is completely unhinged.

He might just be playing the political angle but his response is dangerously naive. As the premier of a State, he should be fully aware that every decision carries an element of risk and in many cases that risk includes death.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

He might just be playing the political angle but his response is dangerously naive. As the premier of a State, he should be fully aware that every decision carries an element of risk and in many cases that risk includes death.

I don't think naive is the right word.

The PM said similar this week.

Prime Minister: Well, thanks Katharine. As of now, 90, let me say this first, every single death, some 3,750 of Australians that we have lost, is a terrible loss. Every life saved is a great blessing, as I said, also. In the course of this pandemic, many lives have been lost. In the course of this pandemic, many, many lives have been saved. That is the reality of a global pandemic. And I think Australians understand that. ....

Questions and Answers, National Press Club Canberra, ACT | Prime Minister of Australia

www.pm.gov.au

Most will dismiss the similarity as being a lead up to May.
One has an important date, the other doesn't - so clearly one isn't naive and the other one is . Or is it more accurate that both have different types of anger directed towards them, so are an easy target .

 

[nutwood]

I don't think naive is the right word.

The PM said similar this week.

Prime Minister: Well, thanks Katharine. As of now, 90, let me say this first, every single death, some 3,750 of Australians that we have lost, is a terrible loss. Every life saved is a great blessing, as I said, also. In the course of this pandemic, many lives have been lost. In the course of this pandemic, many, many lives have been saved. That is the reality of a global pandemic. And I think Australians understand that. ....

Questions and Answers, National Press Club Canberra, ACT | Prime Minister of Australia

www.pm.gov.au

Most will dismiss the similarity as being a lead up to May.
One has an important date, the other doesn't - so clearly one isn't naive and the other one is . Or is it more accurate that both have different types of anger directed towards them, so are an easy target .

I used "naive" with a qualification!
In reality, 166 people died on West Australian roads last year. The majority of these could have been saved by a simple State law; "No vehicle may travel at more than 40 km/h and all licensed vehicles need to have a speed limiter installed".
There would be a cost and inconvenience involved in limiting vehicle speed but the reduction in road trauma would be seriously significant. This simple step to save lives is not undertaken because the government accepts a certain number of deaths on the roads. Road deaths are fine but Covid deaths are unacceptable?

 

[oznflfan]

I used "naive" with a qualification!
In reality, 166 people died on West Australian roads last year. The majority of these could have been saved by a simple State law; "No vehicle may travel at more than 40 km/h and all licensed vehicles need to have a speed limiter installed".
There would be a cost and inconvenience involved in limiting vehicle speed but the reduction in road trauma would be seriously significant. This simple step to save lives is not undertaken because the government accepts a certain number of deaths on the roads. Road deaths are fine but Covid deaths are unacceptable?

Ban cigarettes and alcohol and saving of life would be tenfold.

 

[k_sheep]

Well, they claim the health system is ready.....While I doubt the health system is ready, I also don't think the hard border is about health outcomes.

Well I'd love to be over there as a specialist doctor who now has a couple years' worth of experience in establishing covid testing methods in regional centres (set up in 4 laboratories and counting) ... buuuuut apparently I'm not welcome.

 

[oz_mark]

Well I'd love to be over there as a specialist doctor who now has a couple years' worth of experience in establishing covid testing methods in regional centres (set up in 4 laboratories and counting) ... buuuuut apparently I'm not welcome.

It's wierd. I've heard stories of people with letters from the CHO being rejected. So something is going on ..

 

[JohnM]

It's wierd. I've heard stories of people with letters from the CHO being rejected. So something is going on ..

Could this be signs of what a Welcome to Perthonyang will be like…?

 

[Hillbilly64]

I suggested that she plan to arrive at the border village road house and take the RAT there. If the border officers tell her that it must be 24 hours prior, then roll out the swag in front of them and set the alarm for 24 hours, noting that the result of the RAT taken 30 mins ago is not going to change during the next day .

Surely logic says that a negative RAT taken any time in the previous 24 hours should be acceptable, and the closer to the actual arrival actually makes more sense. But that is not what the official communication states.

My friend, her sister and son flew back in to Perth from vic Satruday am after being locked out for 2 months. Noone checked their RAT results.

She did have trouble getting her pass... her sister and son's came through straight away..hers took 4 goes (but she seems to be a glitch in system and always has trouble with passes...and gettingocked out of the state.)

 

[jakeseven7]

My friend, her sister and son flew back in to Perth from vic Satruday am after being locked out for 2 months. Noone checked their RAT results.

She did have trouble getting her pass... her sister and son's came through straight away..hers took 4 goes (but she seems to be a glitch in system and always has trouble with passes...and gettingocked out of the state.)

My sister took 6 goes to get hers. She took some delight in just redoing them over and over and making some poor public servant read them again and again and again. This will be costing WA taxpayers a FORTUNE. Not that we care . She might not even go… but if she does it will be ‘quarantine light’ I’m sure

 

[liparj]

Seems not all G2G requests are checked by humans prior to approval.. I lodged mine yesterday for a late Feb arrival and received my permit instantly on the ServiceWa app…..(Mmm, could a change be coming soon?).. Not looking forward to another 2 weeks locked up at home..

 

[jakeseven7]

Seems not all G2G requests are checked by humans prior to approval.. I lodged mine yesterday for a late Feb arrival and received my permit instantly on the ServiceWa app…..(Mmm, could a change be coming soon?).. Not looking forward to another 2 weeks locked up at home..

Alot are assessed by a human.

Some are automatic.

2 weeks 'at home' cough. I'm sure you will survive