We thought we might put our thoughts down on how we have gone so far during this terrible year.
Because it is a lengthy document we have left the larger font for easier reading.
Lets look at our current Australian situation so far.
As a nation we were all advised of this Chinese Virus which has been released into the world either by accident or deliberate acts during January and February 2020.
We can all form our own opinions.
We as a nation were happy that our collective governments recognised the danger and reacted accordingly.
We put into place lockdowns but we had to bring our fellow Aussies back into the country from overseas.
We took people from cruise ships and aircraft and asked that they be tested and isolate.
Well that didnt work.
We then decided to isolate people at the governments expense but that didnt work.
We then controlled the amount of people that we took from overseas per day / week etc but that became a problem because the massive numbers of people from overseas that had hesitated on coming home to Australia when they were warned, were now demanding that they be brought home...many of them now claim to have no funds to be able to do this.
Remember that the airlines are companies responsible to shareholders so as a magic stroke of a pen or wand the cost for a seat on an aircraft blew out to many dollars above what a ticket was valued at. The main reason for the cost blow out was so the airline companies made the same money when the planes passenger seating was complying with social distancing. In simple terms, the aircraft werent full of passengers.
Well unfortunately what followed was not was expected by some of those in control in Victoria.
As opposed to all the other states, Victoria decided that a sub let supervision system was a better way to go and as such, basic isolation requirements were breached.
The virus numbers went out of control in Victoria actually in excess of 700 cases per day.
These alarming figures came just after Qld agreed to open their borders to the southern states.
Some travellers crossed legally with respect to regulations of isolation periods while others just told lies and falsified documents to be able to enter the sunshine state. The most common method was to falsify information regarding the time spent in NSW so as to comply to travel restriction rules.
Well, no surprise, the Qld government closed the borders again to protect the northern state and the people from the deadly virus.
This act was no different to all the other states that had the virus under control.
From this decision there came cries of unfair, inhumane, we will go broke, etc etc.
It was interesting that these cries were directed at Qld but nothing at the other states by the media.
Not surprisingly there were similar needs by people from the hotspot states needing to gain entry to the other states but it was and actually still is Qld that is in the spotlight as far as limited entry is concerned.
Ahh! dont we all just love the media.
Particularly as the media is fed, in this instance, by those who have an agenda in influencing an upcoming state election in Qld.
So now we are in a position where Victorias virus transmission figures are down to around a daily number in the 40s which is just on the border of some form of contact tracking.
The NSW figures are down to a point where contact tracing in most cases is now working.
We do need to note that the last 6 to 8 weeks in NSW efforts to control this virus were originally brought about by one, yes, just one, person travelling from Victoria to the CrossRoads Hotel in NSW and starting the outbreak that has caused NSW such heartache.
Well, in this light, it appears that closed borders do actually work.
Lets get away from any decision based on politics.
Do we remember a mining magnate that decided he was going to contest the decision that the WA govt made to keep him out.
It is great news that WA is still closed and virus free.
Then we have had via our marvellous media, comments from our greatest ex treasurer ever, how we will all perish economically which is pretty rich from a guy whose economic policy sent our interest rates from around 5% to 18.5% in the recession we had to have.
Many of those that retired then had to go back to work to survive financially might remember what happened to their super and their investments to provide for their retirement. People lost homes, businesses as well as Superannuation investments.
Yes it all went in the recession we had to have by a person now giving his financial views on our current situation via the media.
Then our PM backflipped on his original need to rid or at least maintain the virus to a manageable level by being extremely critical of Qld while making little comment on the other states.
This went a long way to dividing the country and the constant complaints from Victoria did not help either but this was all fuelled by the media.
It was all good initially until the PM realised that backing any State Minister that wasnt in his morning tea circle was not what his party wanted so stuff the virus, lets make sure Qld gets its fair share of the dreaded lurgy from Victoria but send it via NSW.
Well the Qld health minister was smarter than that and with thanks from all Queenslanders she did not back down to the whinging and whining coming from all those south of the border of how they all needed to get to the warm weather of Qld so their arthritis and there prospective holiday status was maintained.
Well now, that holiday window has nearly passed with cries from the southerners that it is now too hot, too humid, our southern friends arent up here, etc etc.
Qld weathered that storm but the media has generated unprecedented hate on Qld which has now resulted with death threats on the Premier and the chief health officer.
The people that call themselves Australians and have supported this unnecessary attack on people that have Aussies welfare as a first priority, should be ashamed of themselves and that includes past and any present politicians as well as media representatives and protesters that are influenced by these ill informed reports and are organising illegal protests and breaking distancing laws.
While the majority do realise some are inconvenienced by the actions of control in Australia, we should, as a country be very proud of how we have collectively handled this virus.
We are ranking right up there with the best in the world both with the control of numbers and our economy and current employment figures.
Dont be hoodwinked by the media and any political agenda.
We are a great country with great people so dont let anyone drag us down.
This will come under control and we will be one of the best countries in the world.
Dont let anyone talk you out of it.. we are winners here if you dont let them beat us.
Just go back up to the paragraphs stating that how our first attempts of isolation failed and imagine how far we would be in front of the rest of the world had we all just done the right thing.
We all realise that any democratic country has a right to media reports but the power that many outlets have can be very disturbing when reports are extremely one sided at times.
Lets hope that we are now on the improve and keep everything in perspective.
Regards
Rob and Angie Driver
msg said
05:58 PM Sep 18, 2020
Talk about making thing as you want them....Utter Rubbish
dabbler said
07:39 PM Sep 18, 2020
I think you pretty well summed up the situation. There is little opinion and many verifiable facts in your post and it's far from utter rubbish. My opinion ? If the world and Australia had been hit with this virus in any other time but an election year for Qld and hadn't affect the northern grey nomad migration, the plaintiff wails would need to be shared with every other state and territory/territory instead of just Qld. The flip side of the media angle, is they have finally managed to make Australia aware of the tens of thousands trapped overseas, something already known since Day 1 by the Fed govt and anyone with family or friends o/s.
Tony Bev said
11:13 PM Sep 18, 2020
I think that your post was a reasonable balanced report, of what has happened so far, bentaxlebob/babe
I think that the Australian media has been (in the main), reporting more facts than fiction There was obviously some sensational reporting, when some pollies were pushing their party wheelbarrows
One area, where I think the media has been slow to pick up on, was/is a lack of Australian medical facilities/personnel, if the Covid-19 had broken out, in the same scale as some European/Americas countries, (ie, business as usual, at any cost)
Some facts I am aware of is that medical volunteers went from SA and WA to assist in VIC, that tells me that (at one time), there were not enough medical personnel, to cope with the VIC outbreak
There were probably medical volunteers, from other State/Territory as well, but I only remember SA & WA, as some medical volunteers from those States, caught Covid-19
Also, now that WA is increasing the intake numbers of returning overseas Australians, there is mention that elective surgery will be slowed once again, due to medical people required to be on hand, for quarantine purposes, that tells me that perhaps we do not have enough medical personnel, in WA
Teo said
06:11 AM Sep 19, 2020
OK msg. Lets hear your side of the debate. The words utter rubbish are not much of an explanation as to why you are so outspoken on the actions that have been taken recently.
Magnarc said
08:43 AM Sep 19, 2020
MSG. Monosodium Glutamate, too much of which is not good for your health.
Rob Driver said
09:23 AM Sep 19, 2020
Thanks for your kind words Tony.
I do know that medical staff were sent from Qld to assist Victoria during the height of the outbreak. It is an unfortunate fact that those who do tend medically to the sick quite often are afflicted with the very disease that they are treating.
Media reports do vary in content due to location. I would imagine that for you in WA the news of the Qld border would not suffer the hype that the presentation gains here in Qld.
My thoughts are that when media personalities become involved in political reporting then this can become quite the fact of determining an outcome in for example, an upcoming election.
As we said above, Australia is so far in front of most other countries that we should all be proud of our collective efforts.
I hope we can continue to keep the number of cases manageable but what worries me is this that we have been through so far may be just called the first wave when we open our international borders and the whole lot starts again.
Our ability to cope medically is the most important consideration as we open up again.
Regards
Angie
Greystone said
09:43 AM Sep 19, 2020
If the article cannot name the virus by its proper scientific name, but instead chooses a trumpian descriptor, then it has lost all credibility. It's just another piece of drivel.
Rob Driver said
10:04 AM Sep 19, 2020
Greystone wrote:
If the article cannot name the virus by its proper scientific name, but instead chooses a trumpian descriptor, then it has lost all credibility. It's just another piece of drivel.
China Virus, Virus from China, Corona Virus, Covid 19.
Our Post was to highlight in simple terms, the chain of events that have taken place during this year so far. The very first reports made no mention of Covid 19 and Corona Virus was mentioned fairly early in the piece but that term actually doesnt define the actual virus.
The first reports were stated as a potentially deadly virus originating in China.
Covid 19 was the scientific name eventually given to the Virus from China.
It is a shame that you dont seem to be able to contribute anything constructive.
Regards
Angie
Izabarack said
01:09 PM Sep 19, 2020
Greystone wrote:
If the article cannot name the virus by its proper scientific name, but instead chooses a trumpian descriptor, then it has lost all credibility. It's just another piece of drivel.
Absolutely agree. The second sentence alerted me that to read further would be a waste of my time. I did use the time saved to colour code my sock draw roughly along the lines of the Rainbow, left to right.
Iza
The Belmont Bear said
03:06 PM Sep 19, 2020
OK Rob and Angie here is the point of view of someone who lives in one of the southern states -
Like Greytsone I'm not a fan of Trumpisms either like calling covid the Chinese virus or media reports being fake news and grandstanding when the report doesn't support a point of view. "We have done a great job, we are the best in the world, caravans are heading up here from the southern states to get us" - we hear that sort of stuff on Fox News and CNN everyday.
The truth be known the vast majority of people from Vic and NSW are probably more worried about the loss of life, their lack of freedom or the financial damage unemployment and business closures are causing than whether GNs can head north to "relieve their arthritis".
Concern about Australia's welfare is a little more than being concerned about those who live in your own state - half of the population of this country actually reside in NSW and Vic. Maybe Qlders could have shown more concern in the early days by accepting more of the residents returning to Australia instead of leaving Sydney and Melbourne to be swamped - 4 new cases in NSW yesterday and as usual 3 of them were from returning travellers.
I'm pretty sure that what keeps the vast majority of NSWs 7,500,000 residents awake at night isn't whether they can cross the Qld border and go on a holiday - although you never know maybe for some it is..
As far as I know the death threats were tracked to a Gold Coast resident and did not eminate from down here. Weren't the latest outbreaks of Covid in Qld linked to 3 local residents returning from a shopping spree in Melbourne not from residents of either Vic or NSW doing the wrong thing ?
I am concerned with the apparent hyprocisy and lack of compassion being shown towards Australians by state and federal authorities although I do favour keeping the borders closed until a pre determined criteria has been met.
If as you say that the media is trying to influence your election by generating anger towards Qld how is that really going to effect the outcome if only you guys up there get to vote. You keep telling us that the current state government is extremely popular and is leading the world with their virus management so these media reports shouldn't be influencing the locals either.
Contract tracing in NSW has always worked pretty well thats why they have been able to keep the numbers low after initially being overwhelmed by the cruise ship and nursing home fiascos. I don't believe anything has changed in the last 6 to 8 weeks they have probably just been putting in a lot of hard work.
BB
Rob Driver said
09:50 AM Sep 20, 2020
Well I guess Rob and I have been removed from some members XMas cards lists.
We can live with that.
BB,
You made some good points but very little of what you pointed out was actually said by Rob and me.
I am confused with this sentence.
I am concerned with the apparent hyprocisy and lack of compassion being shown towards Australians by state and federal authorities although I do favour keeping the borders closed until a pre determined criteria has been met.
Sounds a bit like having a bet each way.
Regards
Angie
Greg 1 said
12:47 PM Sep 20, 2020
Angie has touched on a very salient point.
That is that due to our isolation and our border closures, both nationally and internationally, our virus infection rates have been extremely low. Even taking the outbreak in Victoria, it is still remarkably low. Most cases are returning overseas travellers, other than Victoria.
However we cannot be complacent.
Victoria has given us a small glimpse of what could happen if government takes the brakes off too early and stupid people don't obey the rules.
WA on the other hand, is a prime example of what happens when the rules are obeyed and people do the right thing, and the government keeps control of the situation.
We are operating almost normally here. Yes there are still a few businesses that are affected by this but most are back and running well. Some are having a bumper year. I visit a lot of businesses and most are reporting being very busy.
With West Australians holidaying at home, tourism operators for the most part are back to normal, in fact trying to get accomodation or a park bay in certain parts of the state is next to impossible. It's a zoo.
So if you want your economies to recover and people back to work, you need to first obey the rules, get through this virus and stop listening to the handful of morons that the media keep trotting out like that former useless treasurer Angie mentioned.
The Belmont Bear said
12:51 PM Sep 20, 2020
Just to clarify - I support borders remaining closed while there is a risk of transferring the virus from states designated as hotspots - we may differ in how we determine "hotspot" but I believe that the theory is sound. What I don't agree with is the hyprocisy and inflexibilty that our various government authorites have been showing when enforcing these border closures. People going through very difficult periods in their lives could be shown a little more compassion/flexibility when the risk of transmission is extremely low or even zero - it seems that flexibility is something that only people with money have had an entitlement to.
I may not have quoted your post verbatim but in my opinion every thing that I responded to had been implied.
We thought we might put our thoughts down on how we have gone so far during this terrible year.
Because it is a lengthy document we have left the larger font for easier reading.
Lets look at our current Australian situation so far.
As a nation we were all advised of this Chinese Virus which has been released into the world either by accident or deliberate acts during January and February 2020.
We can all form our own opinions.
We as a nation were happy that our collective governments recognised the danger and reacted accordingly.
We put into place lockdowns but we had to bring our fellow Aussies back into the country from overseas.
We took people from cruise ships and aircraft and asked that they be tested and isolate.
Well that didnt work.
We then decided to isolate people at the governments expense but that didnt work.
We then controlled the amount of people that we took from overseas per day / week etc but that became a problem because the massive numbers of people from overseas that had hesitated on coming home to Australia when they were warned, were now demanding that they be brought home...many of them now claim to have no funds to be able to do this.
Remember that the airlines are companies responsible to shareholders so as a magic stroke of a pen or wand the cost for a seat on an aircraft blew out to many dollars above what a ticket was valued at. The main reason for the cost blow out was so the airline companies made the same money when the planes passenger seating was complying with social distancing. In simple terms, the aircraft werent full of passengers.
Well unfortunately what followed was not was expected by some of those in control in Victoria.
As opposed to all the other states, Victoria decided that a sub let supervision system was a better way to go and as such, basic isolation requirements were breached.
The virus numbers went out of control in Victoria actually in excess of 700 cases per day.
These alarming figures came just after Qld agreed to open their borders to the southern states.
Some travellers crossed legally with respect to regulations of isolation periods while others just told lies and falsified documents to be able to enter the sunshine state. The most common method was to falsify information regarding the time spent in NSW so as to comply to travel restriction rules.
Well, no surprise, the Qld government closed the borders again to protect the northern state and the people from the deadly virus.
This act was no different to all the other states that had the virus under control.
From this decision there came cries of unfair, inhumane, we will go broke, etc etc.
It was interesting that these cries were directed at Qld but nothing at the other states by the media.
Not surprisingly there were similar needs by people from the hotspot states needing to gain entry to the other states but it was and actually still is Qld that is in the spotlight as far as limited entry is concerned.
Ahh! dont we all just love the media.
Particularly as the media is fed, in this instance, by those who have an agenda in influencing an upcoming state election in Qld.
So now we are in a position where Victorias virus transmission figures are down to around a daily number in the 40s which is just on the border of some form of contact tracking.
The NSW figures are down to a point where contact tracing in most cases is now working.
We do need to note that the last 6 to 8 weeks in NSW efforts to control this virus were originally brought about by one, yes, just one, person travelling from Victoria to the CrossRoads Hotel in NSW and starting the outbreak that has caused NSW such heartache.
Well, in this light, it appears that closed borders do actually work.
Lets get away from any decision based on politics.
Do we remember a mining magnate that decided he was going to contest the decision that the WA govt made to keep him out.
It is great news that WA is still closed and virus free.
Then we have had via our marvellous media, comments from our greatest ex treasurer ever, how we will all perish economically which is pretty rich from a guy whose economic policy sent our interest rates from around 5% to 18.5% in the recession we had to have.
Many of those that retired then had to go back to work to survive financially might remember what happened to their super and their investments to provide for their retirement. People lost homes, businesses as well as Superannuation investments.
Yes it all went in the recession we had to have by a person now giving his financial views on our current situation via the media.
Then our PM backflipped on his original need to rid or at least maintain the virus to a manageable level by being extremely critical of Qld while making little comment on the other states.
This went a long way to dividing the country and the constant complaints from Victoria did not help either but this was all fuelled by the media.
It was all good initially until the PM realised that backing any State Minister that wasnt in his morning tea circle was not what his party wanted so stuff the virus, lets make sure Qld gets its fair share of the dreaded lurgy from Victoria but send it via NSW.
Well the Qld health minister was smarter than that and with thanks from all Queenslanders she did not back down to the whinging and whining coming from all those south of the border of how they all needed to get to the warm weather of Qld so their arthritis and there prospective holiday status was maintained.
Well now, that holiday window has nearly passed with cries from the southerners that it is now too hot, too humid, our southern friends arent up here, etc etc.
Qld weathered that storm but the media has generated unprecedented hate on Qld which has now resulted with death threats on the Premier and the chief health officer.
The people that call themselves Australians and have supported this unnecessary attack on people that have Aussies welfare as a first priority, should be ashamed of themselves and that includes past and any present politicians as well as media representatives and protesters that are influenced by these ill informed reports and are organising illegal protests and breaking distancing laws.
While the majority do realise some are inconvenienced by the actions of control in Australia, we should, as a country be very proud of how we have collectively handled this virus.
We are ranking right up there with the best in the world both with the control of numbers and our economy and current employment figures.
Dont be hoodwinked by the media and any political agenda.
We are a great country with great people so dont let anyone drag us down.
This will come under control and we will be one of the best countries in the world.
Dont let anyone talk you out of it.. we are winners here if you dont let them beat us.
Just go back up to the paragraphs stating that how our first attempts of isolation failed and imagine how far we would be in front of the rest of the world had we all just done the right thing.
We all realise that any democratic country has a right to media reports but the power that many outlets have can be very disturbing when reports are extremely one sided at times.
Lets hope that we are now on the improve and keep everything in perspective.
Regards
Rob and Angie Driver
I think that your post was a reasonable balanced report, of what has happened so far, bentaxlebob/babe
I think that the Australian media has been (in the main), reporting more facts than fiction
There was obviously some sensational reporting, when some pollies were pushing their party wheelbarrows
One area, where I think the media has been slow to pick up on, was/is a lack of Australian medical facilities/personnel, if the Covid-19 had broken out, in the same scale as some European/Americas countries, (ie, business as usual, at any cost)
Some facts I am aware of is that medical volunteers went from SA and WA to assist in VIC, that tells me that (at one time), there were not enough medical personnel, to cope with the VIC outbreak
There were probably medical volunteers, from other State/Territory as well, but I only remember SA & WA, as some medical volunteers from those States, caught Covid-19
Also, now that WA is increasing the intake numbers of returning overseas Australians, there is mention that elective surgery will be slowed once again, due to medical people required to be on hand, for quarantine purposes, that tells me that perhaps we do not have enough medical personnel, in WA
MSG. Monosodium Glutamate, too much of which is not good for your health.
Thanks for your kind words Tony.
I do know that medical staff were sent from Qld to assist Victoria during the height of the outbreak. It is an unfortunate fact that those who do tend medically to the sick quite often are afflicted with the very disease that they are treating.
Media reports do vary in content due to location. I would imagine that for you in WA the news of the Qld border would not suffer the hype that the presentation gains here in Qld.
My thoughts are that when media personalities become involved in political reporting then this can become quite the fact of determining an outcome in for example, an upcoming election.
As we said above, Australia is so far in front of most other countries that we should all be proud of our collective efforts.
I hope we can continue to keep the number of cases manageable but what worries me is this that we have been through so far may be just called the first wave when we open our international borders and the whole lot starts again.
Our ability to cope medically is the most important consideration as we open up again.
Regards
Angie
China Virus, Virus from China, Corona Virus, Covid 19.
Our Post was to highlight in simple terms, the chain of events that have taken place during this year so far. The very first reports made no mention of Covid 19 and Corona Virus was mentioned fairly early in the piece but that term actually doesnt define the actual virus.
The first reports were stated as a potentially deadly virus originating in China.
Covid 19 was the scientific name eventually given to the Virus from China.
It is a shame that you dont seem to be able to contribute anything constructive.
Regards
Angie
Absolutely agree. The second sentence alerted me that to read further would be a waste of my time. I did use the time saved to colour code my sock draw roughly along the lines of the Rainbow, left to right.
Iza
OK Rob and Angie here is the point of view of someone who lives in one of the southern states -
Like Greytsone I'm not a fan of Trumpisms either like calling covid the Chinese virus or media reports being fake news and grandstanding when the report doesn't support a point of view. "We have done a great job, we are the best in the world, caravans are heading up here from the southern states to get us" - we hear that sort of stuff on Fox News and CNN everyday.
The truth be known the vast majority of people from Vic and NSW are probably more worried about the loss of life, their lack of freedom or the financial damage unemployment and business closures are causing than whether GNs can head north to "relieve their arthritis".
Concern about Australia's welfare is a little more than being concerned about those who live in your own state - half of the population of this country actually reside in NSW and Vic. Maybe Qlders could have shown more concern in the early days by accepting more of the residents returning to Australia instead of leaving Sydney and Melbourne to be swamped - 4 new cases in NSW yesterday and as usual 3 of them were from returning travellers.
I'm pretty sure that what keeps the vast majority of NSWs 7,500,000 residents awake at night isn't whether they can cross the Qld border and go on a holiday - although you never know maybe for some it is..
As far as I know the death threats were tracked to a Gold Coast resident and did not eminate from down here. Weren't the latest outbreaks of Covid in Qld linked to 3 local residents returning from a shopping spree in Melbourne not from residents of either Vic or NSW doing the wrong thing ?
I am concerned with the apparent hyprocisy and lack of compassion being shown towards Australians by state and federal authorities although I do favour keeping the borders closed until a pre determined criteria has been met.
If as you say that the media is trying to influence your election by generating anger towards Qld how is that really going to effect the outcome if only you guys up there get to vote. You keep telling us that the current state government is extremely popular and is leading the world with their virus management so these media reports shouldn't be influencing the locals either.
Contract tracing in NSW has always worked pretty well thats why they have been able to keep the numbers low after initially being overwhelmed by the cruise ship and nursing home fiascos. I don't believe anything has changed in the last 6 to 8 weeks they have probably just been putting in a lot of hard work.
BB
Well I guess Rob and I have been removed from some members XMas cards lists.
We can live with that.
BB,
You made some good points but very little of what you pointed out was actually said by Rob and me.
I am confused with this sentence.
I am concerned with the apparent hyprocisy and lack of compassion being shown towards Australians by state and federal authorities although I do favour keeping the borders closed until a pre determined criteria has been met.
Sounds a bit like having a bet each way.
Regards
Angie
Just to clarify - I support borders remaining closed while there is a risk of transferring the virus from states designated as hotspots - we may differ in how we determine "hotspot" but I believe that the theory is sound. What I don't agree with is the hyprocisy and inflexibilty that our various government authorites have been showing when enforcing these border closures. People going through very difficult periods in their lives could be shown a little more compassion/flexibility when the risk of transmission is extremely low or even zero - it seems that flexibility is something that only people with money have had an entitlement to.
I may not have quoted your post verbatim but in my opinion every thing that I responded to had been implied.
BB