Smartraveller being re-launched. Re-subscription required

[RooFlyer]

Just got an e-mail from Smartraveller announcing that their web site is being re-launched in November but subscribers won't be transitioned onto it. You'll have to re-subscribe.

 

[RB]

No email from them yet-I don't understand why they don't transition people over

Looked at the site and noted this
From November, we’ll activate registration only when there’s an overseas crisis. This means we’ll be quicker to respond to those who need our help. Registration will be easier, through a simplified online form. It’ll appear on the Smartraveller website if there’s an overseas crisis.

 

[RooFlyer]

I don't understand why they don't transition people over

Wonder if its a way to 'clear out the dead wood' (may be not the best choice of terms!)

 

[VPS]

Are they going to let you import your Tripit now - would save hours of manual entering

 

[p--and--t]

What you need to know

• You don’t need to register your travel with us before you leave Australia.

Maybe I'm wrong but when I read the new website announcement, I sounds like "we don't want to know when you are going unless there is a crisis".

So I go overseas to several countries for a few months and a war breaks out while I am away and they don't know where I am because they weren't interested before I left?

 

[Chief Wiggum]

Welcome to our new website!

Lift off! We’ve redesigned Smartraveller to better communicate our travel advice so you can be informed and prepared about overseas travel. And return home safely. Our travel advice is clearer, with the essential security and safety information communicated in a more readable and accessible...

smartraveller.gov.au

Maybe I'm not understanding what I'm reading but I'm baffled and stunned by the part where it says there will no longer be any pre-trip Registration... and they will only activate such when a crisis is active. HOW DOES THIS MAKE ANY SENSE ?!?!?

" * From November, we’ll activate registration only when there’s an overseas crisis.
* This means we’ll be quicker to respond to those who need our help.
* Registration will be easier, through a simplified online form. It’ll appear on the Smartraveller website if there’s an overseas crisis."

That is the absolute WORST time to expect someone to find a computer and tell DFAT where they are.

I have always assumed the whole purpose of pre-registering your travel itinerary with SmartTraveller was that when something really bad happens somewhere.... they can pull up a report from the database and see (a) How many Australians are in that region (b) Who they are (c) How to contact them if required.

So now we have to go to a website from underneath the rubble of our hotel room that has just collapsed from the earthquake ?!?!?

I truly hope I'm completely misreading this situation... but if not then it really not good.

 

[Spongbob]

Ummm... so what will be the point of SmartTraveller after November?

 

[VPS]

Welcome to our new website!

Lift off! We’ve redesigned Smartraveller to better communicate our travel advice so you can be informed and prepared about overseas travel. And return home safely. Our travel advice is clearer, with the essential security and safety information communicated in a more readable and accessible...

smartraveller.gov.au

Maybe I'm not understanding what I'm reading but I'm baffled and stunned by the part where it says there will no longer be any pre-trip Registration... and they will only activate such when a crisis is active. HOW DOES THIS MAKE ANY SENSE ?!?!?

" * From November, we’ll activate registration only when there’s an overseas crisis.
* This means we’ll be quicker to respond to those who need our help.
* Registration will be easier, through a simplified online form. It’ll appear on the Smartraveller website if there’s an overseas crisis."

That is the absolute WORST time to expect someone to find a computer and tell DFAT where they are.

I have always assumed the whole purpose of pre-registering your travel itinerary with SmartTraveller was that when something really bad happens somewhere.... they can pull up a report from the database and see (a) How many Australians are in that region (b) Who they are (c) How to contact them if required.

So now we have to go to a website from underneath the rubble of our hotel room that has just collapsed from the earthquake ?!?!?

I truly hope I'm completely misreading this situation... but if not then it really not good.

assuming you have internet connection and power after the earthquake and I'm sure the printer will still work

 

[get me outta here]

We need something in writing after we demand an explanation of this.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Yeah, totally agree. Here I am in a do not travel country again, returning November, and no info on what happens to my existing registration come 1 Nov. not that there would be anything Aussie High Comm could do from two countries away if anything did go off

Cheers skip

 

[Jbac]

This really is very disappointing to hear. There was always a level of comfort knowing when travelling for extended periods away, if I needed to be contacted in an emergency, this could be done. The registration was coughbersome and needed an overhaul but certainly not the removal of the service. As noted above, if in a crisis I don’t think the finding a computer, logging on etc would be high priority or possible!

 

[spuddo]

What you need to know

• You don’t need to register your travel with us before you leave Australia.

Maybe I'm wrong but when I read the new website announcement, I sounds like "we don't want to know when you are going unless there is a crisis".

So I go overseas to several countries for a few months and a war breaks out while I am away and they don't know where I am because they weren't interested before I left?

Spot on! Looks like cost cutting to me. Typical of a Liberal Government who reckon its up to you to sort out issues cos they just don't care!
I can just see Dutton et al going out of their way to sort out issues for people they don't know about because it was impossible for affected people to get to a computer to let these morons know where they are. What a COP OUT!

 

[PineappleSkip]

What a COP OUT!

Welcome to AFF, spuddo. Tell us what you really think!!

Cheers skip

 

[RooFlyer]

Spot on! Looks like cost cutting to me. Typical of a Liberal Government who reckon its up to you to sort out issues cos they just don't care!
I can just see Dutton et al going out of their way to sort out issues for people they don't know about because it was impossible for affected people to get to a computer to let these morons know where they are. What a COP OUT!

Usually I say 'welcome to AFF' to a first-poster, but this time I think I'll pass. Do you have anything constructive to add?

 

[justinbrett]

Labor campaign machine has started early

 

[Scarlett]

Looks like the DFAT press release was written by QF PR team...
"we'll be quicker to respond when someone really needs our help".
(because we don't have anyone's details, we only care about those who actively contact us from the disaster zone)

What a great way to understand the scale of the problem.

Imagine this change in the scale of the Bali bombing for example:
- disaster occurs
- three or four Aussies actively contact DFAT in the first 12 hours
- duty poindexter in Canberra files report to minister noting minimal effect on AUS citizens
- Defence stands down evac C130 and emergency trauma team
- everyone in Aus Govt waits for the Indon Govt to request specific assistance because they don't know any better

- then of course the media get to the site and the true scale starts emerging
- much reactive work by Govt staffers to overcome the negative publicity

- DFAT activates a website with preregistration for overseas travellers (with much spin about what an 'enhancement' it will be)

I agree with the bewilderment of other posters. This seems to make no sense.

 

[Scarlett]

There's likely the other side of the story which could well be that DFAT have analysed the numbers and maybe less than 10% of outbound Aussie tourists actually registered with the site. Or that much of the data entered may have been less useful (garbage in, garbage out).
Based on the lack of detail replaced by spin in the press release, I guess we'll never know.

 

[Lynda2475]

The registration process was always quite limited, it never gave the ability to specify you were on a cruise or a tour with a company. Any registration i did was piecemeal at best unless doing purely a city stay and not trekking around a region.

The most useful thing has always been to check the warnings/threat level and visa requirements for palces youa re palnning to visit which I trust wont be removed. If threat level goes too high travel insurance can be voided.

For those arriving by air i guess dfat would have immigration records of who has entered but not left a region.

Always a good idea to leave you itinerary and contact details with family or friends who are not traveling and who can reach out to dfat on your behalf in the event of a disaster .

 

[Spongbob]

Labor campaign machine has started early

Post #12 is as good as any other explanation yet offered in this thread. Can you suggest a more likely reason for the change?

 

[get me outta here]

The fact remains that it was coughbersome and should / could have been redesigned. Now it's as useful as a bike for a fish and would even give false hope.