Lost track wth what's happening with Covid? This is the current situation.

[Paddo Colt 61]

What's happening with the pandemic? Why did we have those painful lockdowns only to see the current disaster evolve?

First the lockdowns and the current situation are pretty much unrelated. Morrison's preference since the get go was/is to prioritise business and commerce over public health concerns. We see this in the lackadaisical acquisition of vaccines by the Commonwealth and the consequent protests that it wasn't "a race". But of course, it was a race and the lockdowns were designed to buy time to vaccinate the population against Covid and its more virulent relative Delta. Our PM left the roll out of all of that to States by the way.

When 90%+ vaccination of the population was achieved the well grounded epidemiological theory was that most of us would be spared the worst ravages of the pandemic and so "normality" might return. Normality would mean no more lockdowns and a public health switch to "living with Covid" - it would now just become endemic not pandemic. Immunisation would reduce the risks for all who were vaccinated.

"Opening up", however, did not envisage the arrival of a new variant of the pathogen - one that was pretty much impervious to the double vax. For Scotty and the Libs the dream is now fast fading and though the evidence seems to be that Omicron is less devastating, it is evidently far more virulent and the public health path ahead is now more and more uncertain. More lockdowns are highly unlikely, we are committed to seeing this stage through in the hope that boosters will come to the rescue. Let's hope that the orders are in, unlike the RAT tests we are camouring for. Can do Capitalism anyone? Can do all right - a price gouging cash in on community fear.

[PRIDE]

Thanks Paddo, that is pretty spot on.

[zac]

yeah, omicron is a game changer and it's putting a lot of pressure on the hospitals. seems like it isn't so lethal - most of the people in icu atm are the unvaccinated with delta so maybe omicron, once people get their boosters, might see the end of the pandemic.

the decision to encourage people not to wear masks seems pretty dumb and it's going to be a couple of months where case numbers soar but once we get past that things could be a lot better.

[Paddo Colt 61]

What a disaster this latest chapter is becoming. The Party of Capital assured us the Australians wanted government out of their lives and that after the lockdown period and mass vaccination we would have just that. "Individual responsibility" became the mantra. At first individual responsibility was thrown to the winds especially by the young elements many of whom have never ever demonstrated much of a track record of any kind of responsibility - they flocked to the pubs, beaches, picnics. restaurants you name it and the economy began "roaring back" according to News Ltd.

That lasted a fortnight. Now personal responsibility manifests itself in voluntary lockdown but still, and relentlessly, infection rates boom - 30,000 in NSW this weekend. Concerned for their families many sought to show personal responsibility by monitoring themselves and family members with RAT tests only to find that few were available - despite exhortations to personal responsibility the Government had not ordered supplies sufficient to meet the predicted demand generated by Comicron. Why had they not? They left that detail to Can Do Capitalism but with no early demand for such testing, and hence no apparent market, private enterprise did not stock up. Despite admitting that his own RAT tests were free, Morrison was/is happy with us being gouged for the limited supply available. Is it all not a cock up of the first order? A government which doesn't believe in government leading in the way which it has done historically in Australia to our collective benefit. Substituting instead a Republican inspired pipe dream alien to most Australians if they ever bother to think about it.

But the skies opened as Novak Djokovic touched down in Melbourne at midnight on Thursday with a Commonwealth visa but sans a double vax document. The Media desperate for any copy at all, set up a clamour and, as usual, Scomo blamed Dan Andrews before taking time to think the situation through. In less than 24 hours the Libs realised that Novdjok was a gift from the Gods (perhaps a miracle after another "gimme a sign Lord" session). Suddenly, Dan was off the hook, this was a Commonwealth matter and by Jeezuz no one was above the law even if they had a Commonwealth visa. An International issue developed sucking the oxygen from all other news events around it including the RAT test fiasco. A distraction to beat the band, one indeed worthy of little Johnny. Another "We will decide..." moment, always a winner with the mugs.

At what cost? A sports loving public deprived of seeing the greatest male tennis player ever (no probs how good was belting the Pms in the Cricket - that should do ya!"), Tennis Australia's reputation thrown under the bus after what had clearly been a wink and a nod situation just days earlier. International approbation (on a level with "I don't think....I know") for shifting the goal posts for political advantage. With the pandemic situation now as dire as it is and a community still under orders to live with it, would Novdjok's stay have made any difference even?

[Paddo Colt 61]

What a humiliating situation for the "Government". The big Oz Open diversion comes a gutser and with International eyes on us again. First that ludicrous trip to Glasgow with that laughable "plan' and then, in front of millions, "I don't think, I know". Of course they'll consider the heavy artillery now - the Ministerial override, but that will cause even more embarrassment. What a bunch of lightweights. How can they still be any chance of winning the coming election? The answer of course is that this is Australia, peopled by low education sheeple in thrall to a near media monopoly owned by an American national who has already caused political dysfunction in his own country.

For me the sad part is the seeing Novak's fellow detainees, one of whom has been confined for 9 years. It's our national shame because base political motives determine it and we the Sheeple give it not a thought. Shame.

[Paddo Colt 61]

When the political lightweight Brendan Nelson was being punched around the ring daily by Kevin Rudd whose popularity consequently skyrocketed, News Ltd took upon itself the role of opposition leader and within a few months Rudd's ratings had nosedived. Murdoch plays the same blatant partisan role with Labor states in this pandemic which is why you won't read in the Tele or in the Oz that Dan Andrews' government ordered 2.2 million RAT tests in October (currently distributed free to close contacts) with an additional 44 million ordered since. If Victoria could foresee the need then why could not the self anointed "better managers"?
Rather than shovelling public money into private hands at every opportunity, Progressive governments put public health first and last and that leading role stands in stark contrast to what we're seeing from this lot of liars and big talkers whose every policy thought factors in, first, the benefit to the rich.

[bondi.boy]

What a humiliating situation for the "Government". The big Oz Open diversion comes a gutser and with International eyes on us again. First that ludicrous trip to Glasgow with that laughable "plan' and then, in front of millions, "I don't think, I know". Of course they'll consider the heavy artillery now - the Ministerial override, but that will cause even more embarrassment. What a bunch of lightweights. How can they still be any chance of winning the coming election? The answer of course is that this is Australia, peopled by low education sheeple in thrall to a near media monopoly owned by an American national who has already caused political dysfunction in his own country.

For me the sad part is the seeing Novak's fellow detainees, one of whom has been confined for 9 years. It's our national shame because base political motives determine it and we the Sheeple give it not a thought. Shame.

If you think Australia can just close down its coal-fired power stations and replace them with wind mills and solar panels anytime in the next 50 years you're very seriously mistaken.
There's one way to make sure the Djokovic debacle doesn't happen again...ban Covid medical exemptions for anyone entering Australia. Problem solved.

In immigration detention for 9 years? Why?

Good luck with Albo in his Rabbitohs mask, Shorten and the rest of them.
You deserve them.
Italy stopped the EU sending us the vaccines last year, that's why ScoMo was unable to get them and we had to wait.

[Random Rooster]

Italy stopped the EU sending us the vaccines last year, that's why ScoMo was unable to get them and we had to wait.

Not even close to the truth.

Italy stopped 250,000 locally made Astra Zeneca vaccines from coming to Australia in March 2021. At the time Greg Hunt said that it was not going to affect the vaccine rollout & said "Domestic production starts with 1 million [doses] per week of deliveries from late March and is on track,this [Italy] shipment was not factored into our distribution plan for coming weeks."

Australia did not come to an agreement with Pfizer till November 2020. 5 months earlier Pfizer requested a high level meeting with Hunt & the Australian Government, who never bothered to even reply. By then most of the world had their orders for Pfizer in before us....and the Australian government were caught with their dick in their hands with only Astra Zeneca available -& issues over blood clotting. Unbelievably the Australian Government went from Astra Z being only suitable to people over 50, to people over 60, to people over 40 and then to anyone over 18....all in the space of under 6 weeks. That just eroded peoples confidence in Astra Z & it was obvious the Australian government were trying & saying anything to get the vaccine percentages up.....all while Pfizer was being delivered all around the world.

By late August Australia had to embarrassingly secure 1 million Pfizer doses off Poland of all places-who had a surplus.

[Paddo Colt 61]

[QUOTE=bondi.boy;
Do you think Australia can just close down its coal-fired power stations and replace them with wind mills and solar panels anytime in the next 50 years you're very seriously mistaken.
There's one way to make sure the Djokovic debacle doesn't happen again...ban Covid medical exemptions for anyone entering Australia. Problem solved.
In immigration detention for 9 years? Why?
Good luck with Albo in his Rabbitohs mask, Shorten and the rest of them.
You deserve them.
Italy stopped the EU sending us the vaccines last year, that's why ScoMo was unable to get them and we had to wait.

Love ya response BB if only for it's complete irrelevance. Reminded me of an old joke:

Two female neighbours, one an ordinary hausfrau and the other a rather sophisticated type were conferring over the back fence.

"Oh Mrs. Johnson I've just been listening to an old tape of Jack Davey - Jack was such a brilliantly witty man, his retorts to contestants on the show were so subtle yet quick as a flash and right off the cuff". He is sorely missed.
" Yeah Jack was quick alright but my Harry is pretty good too. The other night we was at the pictures and trying to find our seats in the dark and someone at the back yelled out, "Sit down ya bastards!!" and my Harry, straight off the cuff and quick as flash shot back "Get fcuked".

[Paddo Colt 61]

What a pickle we're witnessing now. Hadda huge laugh at the faux "action" conferences shown on the news. Smoko with a bank of screens featuring grim faced familiar pandemic officials and the General hunched over his phone seemingly about to have some crucial discussions (His military expertise in in Logistics - he's the bloke presiding over the RAT test cock up). Who'd wanna be a digger depending on our Officer class?

The Novdjok situation must have them flummoxed and, again, a situation all of their own making - the bully boy pose has become a total disaster. What to do? After all the bluster do they override the Court decision? That would involve serving the order personally by the Federal Police at the courts in the glare of world media. Do they sit on it? Ministerial revue can take months if not years as in the case of the Biloela family. The best result that they can hope for is to sit tight "reviewing" and praying (arms held aloft) that he bows out in the early rounds but it's doubtful that even God could help there. Either way it's a dilemma that must have the strategic minds at Newsorpse fully occupied. Possibly they could find Communists among the Serbian dancers.

The doctrine of Promissory Estoppel brought them undone - mostly lawyers, the "better managers" managed to overlook a basic tenant of Contract Law that you can't (even in the absence of a written contract) change terms that the other party has acted on - policy on the run in other words. The time to deny a visa is before it is issued.

It's the price they pay for putting people in SS uniforms and hyping Border security to the Nth The Lord giveth and then he taketh away.

[bondi.boy]

Everything can't be free anymore...but I think ScoMo should provide the RATs free for a while.
"Register your RATs on the Service NSW website or be fined $1000"...ridiculous.
Many people don't have smart phones. Some people don't even have mobile phones.
Some people don't even have computers.
People wanted freedom...wanted to get back to niteclubs, pubs, visiting and hugging and kissing family...no masks, no social distancing, no anything....and as a result our society is a shambolic mess.

I left my home today...ventured past my front door (had to get car passed for rego)...big mistake, although I couldn't find a mobile mechanic to do it.
Got to the place, workshop out back.
On front door a sign "please wear a mask"...I was wearing a mask.
I entered.
Office/reception area about 14ft x 12ft.
No one in the area except a 20 something male slouched in a chair in the corner on the customer side of the counter, playing with his phone, no mask.
I pushed the buzzer. Not long after a 20 something male bounced in from out the back..."can I help you"...no mask.
I left the rego document on the counter, quickly backed away and waited outside.
Mechanic came outside and took car around the back.
I sat at a chair and table out the front of the place next door, no one else there.
Not there long when a 30 something woman with a 5 yr old child in tow walked past and entered the "super health" place, no mask.
Wandered around in there for about 15 minutes, maskless...then emerged with a shake and bottle of pills.
Mechanic then arrived with the car, he entered the office, no mask...ignoring the mask sign on the front door.
I waited a few minutes then entered the office to pay.
Slouch guy was still in the corner, no mask.
Mechanic was seated behind the counter, working at computer, no mask.
Another man from out the back was standing next to him talking, no mask. He, no mask, asked me if I was being served.

No wonder there are 35,000 new cases of Covid every day. Wouldn't surprise me if I'm next.
Correction...make that 92000 plus per day, on today's figure.

[bondi.boy]

[QUOTE=Paddo Colt 61;n916721][QUOTE=bondi.boy;
Do you think Australia can just close down its coal-fired power stations and replace them with wind mills and solar panels anytime in the next 50 years you're very seriously mistaken.
There's one way to make sure the Djokovic debacle doesn't happen again...ban Covid medical exemptions for anyone entering Australia. Problem solved.
In immigration detention for 9 years? Why?
Good luck with Albo in his Rabbitohs mask, Shorten and the rest of them.
You deserve them.
Italy stopped the EU sending us the vaccines last year, that's why ScoMo was unable to get them and we had to wait.

Love ya response BB if only for it's complete irrelevance. Reminded me of an old joke:

Two female neighbours, one an ordinary hausfrau and the other a rather sophisticated type were conferring over the back fence.

"Oh Mrs. Johnson I've just been listening to an old tape of Jack Davey - Jack was such a brilliantly witty man, his retorts to contestants on the show were so subtle yet quick as a flash and right off the cuff". He is sorely missed.
" Yeah Jack was quick alright but my Harry is pretty good too. The other night we was at the pictures and trying to find our seats in the dark and someone at the back yelled out, "Sit down ya bastards!!" and my Harry, straight off the cuff and quick as flash shot back "Get fcuked".[/QUOTE]

You wrote "Glasgow with that laughable 'plan'".

ScoMo's climate change policy is the best one for Australia.

[Paddo Colt 61]

Yeah....look I love ya BB and I enjoy hearing any news of the boss, Mrs BB, but in argument it is necessary to refute with evidence. Anything, otherwise, is called "free assertion" and is really a waste of breath. People who read the Tele are, no doubt, familiar with most of what you freely assert.

[bondi.boy]

What a pickle we're witnessing now. Hadda huge laugh at the faux "action" conferences shown on the news. Smoko with a bank of screens featuring grim faced familiar pandemic officials and the General hunched over his phone seemingly about to have some crucial discussions (His military expertise in in Logistics - he's the bloke presiding over the RAT test cock up). Who'd wanna be a digger depending on our Officer class?

The Novdjok situation must have them flummoxed and, again, a situation all of their own making - the bully boy pose has become a total disaster. What to do? After all the bluster do they override the Court decision? That would involve serving the order personally by the Federal Police at the courts in the glare of world media. Do they sit on it? Ministerial revue can take months if not years as in the case of the Biloela family. The best result that they can hope for is to sit tight "reviewing" and praying (arms held aloft) that he bows out in the early rounds but it's doubtful that even God could help there. Either way it's a dilemma that must have the strategic minds at Newsorpse fully occupied. Possibly they could find Communists among the Serbian dancers.

The doctrine of Promissory Estoppel brought them undone - mostly lawyers, the "better managers" managed to overlook a basic tenant of Contract Law that you can't (even in the absence of a written contract) change terms that the other party has acted on - policy on the run in other words. The time to deny a visa is before it is issued.

It's the price they pay for putting people in SS uniforms and hyping Border security to the Nth The Lord giveth and then he taketh away.

Seems to me our Iimigration Minister Alex Hawke will be deporting dajoker before Monday.
8pm Friday would be a good time to cancel his visa, and take him back into detention.
Now Spain as well as Serbia are none too happy with him about his Covid antics in their country.
We have laws.
We have strict immigration laws.
We have border laws, strict customs laws.
These laws need to be strictly enforced or else we will suffer.
IMO we are far too nice, far too soft, far too lenient with people trying to take advantage of us, trying to play us for fools.

This dajoker case is ScoMo and Co's "Tampa".
If they can't see that, and see what they need to do, then they will look weak and foolish, not a good thing, especially with an election looming

[bondi.boy]

When the political lightweight Brendan Nelson was being punched around the ring daily by Kevin Rudd whose popularity consequently skyrocketed, News Ltd took upon itself the role of opposition leader and within a few months Rudd's ratings had nosedived. Murdoch plays the same blatant partisan role with Labor states in this pandemic which is why you won't read in the Tele or in the Oz that Dan Andrews' government ordered 2.2 million RAT tests in October (currently distributed free to close contacts) with an additional 44 million ordered since. If Victoria could foresee the need then why could not the self anointed "better managers"?
Rather than shovelling public money into private hands at every opportunity, Progressive governments put public health first and last and that leading role stands in stark contrast to what we're seeing from this lot of liars and big talkers whose every policy thought factors in, first, the benefit to the rich.

Rudd's ratings had nosedived because the People found out, thanks to the rightist media if you like, what Rudd was really like and what he was up to.
There's the Sydney Morning Herald and all the free to air TV stations, please don't try to tell me they are right wing.
Then there's all the fm radio stations, hardly right wing stalwarts.
Rudd/Gillard/Rudd...they only got it about people smugglers, asylum seekers, and carbon taxes at the end of their *reign*...way too late.