Voice your concerns

[Chiliburn]

http://www.greghunt.com.au/contact/contact-greg/

[possum52]

What are we voicing our concerns to Greg Hunt about Phillip?

 

Leigh

[Chiliburn]

14 minutes ago, possum52 said:

What are we voicing our concerns to Greg Hunt about Phillip?

 

Leigh

Voice your concern about the cruise ban.

 Singapore has been operating for 3.5 months at least with out a incident.

‘Singapore has set a good example that we can follow.

 

 Our minister Greg Hunt has Just extended the cruise ban for another 3 months.
 

Dont you think Melbourne could have a ship doing domestic cruises.

All of the related businesses that have a spin off.

people staying  a night before the cruise,catch a taxi, go out for dinner, etc
 

[OzKiwiJJ]

Realistically there hasn't really been a significant amount of cruising from late March/early April in Australia, especially from Melbourne due to sea conditions in Bass Strait. P&O used to operate from Sydney and Brisbane, going up to QLD or the South Pacific. Princess operated the big cruises - round Australia, Hawaii/Tahiti, world cruise, although up to about four years ago they also had a ship doing Top End runs. I think Carnival used to operate from Brisbane over winter. All the other cruise lines buggered off until October or so.

 

So extending the cruise ban through winter is is quite sensible. However if they extend it past the end of September I'm going to be seriously peeved!

[lyndarra]

Problem for me is that there's nowhere to cruise to.

[possum52]

46 minutes ago, Chiliburn said:

Voice your concern about the cruise ban.

 Singapore has been operating for 3.5 months at least with out a incident.

‘Singapore has set a good example that we can follow.

 

 Our minister Greg Hunt has Just extended the cruise ban for another 3 months.
 

Dont you think Melbourne could have a ship doing domestic cruises.

All of the related businesses that have a spin off.

people staying  a night before the cruise,catch a taxi, go out for dinner, etc
 

Yes, I am well aware that Australia'a international borders will continue to be closed until June 17th at this time. Mr Hunt made the announcement on the advice of the AHPPC. This is part of his announcement yesterday. "The AHPPC has advised the Australian government the COVID-19 situation overseas continues to pose an unacceptable public health risk to Australia, including the emergence of more highly transmissible variants."

 

That seems fair enough to me. Perhaps when asking us to voice our concerns, put what we are voicing our concerns about. I thought perhaps it was about the Covid vaccine or the Aged Care Report.

 

There is no way I would be cruising from Melbourne after March, it wouldn't be until at least the end of October. So for Melbourne, it won't matter if there is no crusing for the next 6 months. We have a cruise booked for the end of November to PNG so am hoping PNG is open to international visitors by then if our borders have been opened. I guess any decision will be guied by what is happening in the rest og the world and what happens here through winter. Many Australians are travelling domestically so that is helping tourist destinations.

 

Leigh

 

[lyndarra]

1 hour ago, Chiliburn said:

Voice your concern about the cruise ban.

 Singapore has been operating for 3.5 months at least with out a incident.

‘Singapore has set a good example that we can follow.

 

 Our minister Greg Hunt has Just extended the cruise ban for another 3 months.
 

Dont you think Melbourne could have a ship doing domestic cruises.

All of the related businesses that have a spin off.

people staying  a night before the cruise,catch a taxi, go out for dinner, etc
 

Without going in to bat for Greg Hunt, other countries had commenced vaccinations as an emergency, due to the rampant infections, before complete testing and approval protocols were finished. I understood our government delayed approval until all protocols were complete and reactions could be observed and also because Australia was not being ravaged by COVID.

[Chiliburn]

We are in a good position to start this travel bubble that has been talked about for the last 6 months.

 I can’t understand why they can’t announce a plan of some kind.

Taiwan and Singapore are in a similar position and they are much more progressive.

 

 I not say get some ships here next month as it’s going to take months to organise crew .But a plan?

 

 Even NSW health can’t get information out of his office .

[Docker123]

 I really think Mr Hunt has more to worry about than cruises.

 

The govt plan was to distribute 80,000 doses and vaccinate 60,000 people by end of Feb. About 60,000 were distributed and 30,000 used.

 

So, the trajectory of getting everyone done by October is already challenged.

 

Then we consider the consequences of rocking up a boatload of crew 1,000-1,500. One of the biggest sources of crew, the Philippines, only started vaccinating on Monday. And they are having supply line problems.

 

Add in the political dimensions. The govt have a few other political “spot fire” to deal with at the moment.

 

[MicCanberra]

The cruises that go are short 3 or 4 day cruises to nowhere. So not having anywhere to go is not an issue.

[NSWP]

It appear the Government will not 'sign off' on the CoVid-19 Plan, submitted to the Government(s) by the Cruise Lines. Not yet anyway.  That is according to Cruise Industry guru - Mr Kaetz.

 

I reckon it will be mid 2022 before all are vaccinated in Straya, remember it is two jabs.

Edited March 3, 2021 by NSWP

[frantic36]

3 hours ago, NSWP said:

I reckon it will be mid 2022 before all are vaccinated in Straya, remember it is two jabs.

 

Having worked as an RN doing immunisations I don't think it will take that long. In our local medical practice alone we worked like crazy in flu season but we got through large amounts of patients to give flu shots. 

 

Last year in late May the official government website posted an article that they had done 72% of the population with flu vaccines and were thinking it would be over 75% soon. When you consider that that vaccine isn't distributed until late March at the earliest that was a large number of the population done in two months. So based on that I would think with two jabs that a similar number vaccinated by October, 2021 would be feasible.

 

The Pfizer vaccine needs specialist distribution but the Astra Zeneca can be done in the same locale as flu vaccine. My husband just came back from our local doctor at the same practice I worked at and was told they haven't got a firm date for the AZ rollout yet but they will be doing them there. 

[Chiliburn]

1 hour ago, frantic36 said:

 

Having worked as an RN doing immunisations I don't think it will take that long. In our local medical practice alone we worked like crazy in flu season but we got through large amounts of patients to give flu shots. 

 

Last year in late May the official government website posted an article that they had done 72% of the population with flu vaccines and were thinking it would be over 75% soon. When you consider that that vaccine isn't distributed until late March at the earliest that was a large number of the population done in two months. So based on that I would think with two jabs that a similar number vaccinated by October, 2021 would be feasible.

 

The Pfizer vaccine needs specialist distribution but the Astra Zeneca can be done in the same locale as flu vaccine. My husband just came back from our local doctor at the same practice I worked at and was told they haven't got a firm date for the AZ rollout yet but they will be doing them there. 

On the news yesterday our premier Gladys can’t get information out of Greg Hunt who has been vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine so they aren’t trying to vaccine the same group with the Astra Zeneca.

They said it’s like a brick wall.

 

 Obviously they are overwhelmed.

 

Hey even Texas has given the go ahead for cruises,which I don’t agree with.

[Chiliburn]

7 hours ago, MicCanberra said:

The cruises that go are short 3 or 4 day cruises to nowhere. So not having anywhere to go is not an issue.

Exactly just coastal cruises.

 People may fly in on a domestic flight,stay a couple of nights in a hotel,go out for dinner,do a few tourists things.

It isn’t the big spending  overseas visitors but it may help.
 

[mr walker]

I think opening of our international borders to tourists, including cruisers is well down the governments list. I suggest that is good policy from a community safety position & also frankly good politics. Politics is politics, and despite avid cruisers & TA's 'vested interests', me included, there are few votes in cruiseships.

 

I am hopeful with high uptake of vaccination here, compulsory vaccination for cruisers, vaccination & quarantining of crews, rapid tests, and enhanced boarding & onboard protocols, we can have some ships here for the 21-22 season, say from Oct, for local cruises for Australians only. 🤞

[Chiliburn]

23 minutes ago, mr walker said:

I think opening of our international borders to tourists, including cruisers is well down the governments list. I suggest that is good policy from a community safety position & also frankly good politics. Politics is politics, and despite avid cruisers & TA's 'vested interests', me included, there are few votes in cruiseships.

 

I am hopeful with high uptake of vaccination here, compulsory vaccination for cruisers, vaccination & quarantining of crews, rapid tests, and enhanced boarding & onboard protocols, we can have some ships here for the 21-22 season, say from Oct, for local cruises for Australians only. 🤞

It’s jobs mr Walker .Start opening things up within reason.

The government can’t keep paying for ever.

 

We did the wattle bay walk today.

It goes from Glebe though to darling harbour. Catch the light rail and walk back.

I counted 6 people at the fish market,at darling harbour I was surprised to see everything open. Hardly anyone there.

They must be hurting.

[OzKiwiJJ]

40 minutes ago, Chiliburn said:

It’s jobs mr Walker .Start opening things up within reason.

The government can’t keep paying for ever.

 

We did the wattle bay walk today.

It goes from Glebe though to darling harbour. Catch the light rail and walk back.

I counted 6 people at the fish market,at darling harbour I was surprised to see everything open. Hardly anyone there.

They must be hurting.

Yet go about 12km (by road) to the Lane Cove Canopy and it would have been busy.

 

Adelaide Central Markets were very busy on Saturday. Chinatown was moderately busy on Monday night.

 

Locals are still going to their favourite places, domestic tourists are doing their bit but things won't be back to pre-Covid normal until it's safe to open the international border. Judging by the number of NSW quarantine cases this week that will still be a long way off. The government is doing the right thing keeping the international border closed, and I hope that when they do open it they will be selective as to which countries they open it to until this pandemic is over or until sufficient people in Australia have been vaccinated.

[frantic36]

Here in the West tourism is booming with the domestic market. The city isn't busy walking around during the day but I find that pretty normal. Local events get busy including the just finished Fringe Festival.

 

A couple of weeks ago we went down south to Margaret River region and even though it was after school holidays it was very busy. Restaurants were packed and the popular ones had to be booked in advance. When we were in Broome last August it was the same with local tours and restaurants needing to be booked in advance.

 

I don't understand why Sydney's is so bad except that they must focus more on international tourism then we do?

[NSWP]

2 hours ago, Chiliburn said:

It’s jobs mr Walker .Start opening things up within reason.

The government can’t keep paying for ever.

 

We did the wattle bay walk today.

It goes from Glebe though to darling harbour. Catch the light rail and walk back.

I counted 6 people at the fish market,at darling harbour I was surprised to see everything open. Hardly anyone there.

They must be hurting.

About 3 weeks ago I had a day at Darling Harbour with my son and later on 4 of his mates, bar crawl, lunch. Deserted. I have been to DH a hundred times, never seen it so deserted. Many of the shops and eateries were just closed up. No overseas tourists that is why. It was Week day an raining but.

[possum52]

I have not been in to Melbourne CBD for ages or to the regular tourist areas such as St Kilda (I have driven through St Kilda and it was quite busy). From what I hear and read, the CBD itself is not busy but areas around Southbank are and Docklands is picking up. The roads are busy at weekends so people are out and about. Our bayside beaches are busy and our local shops are doing well, particularly at weekends. When we were in south west Victoria a few weeks ago, the restaurants, cafes and takeaways were all busy both in Warrnambool and Port Fairy. So domestically, people are out and spending. 

 

Leigh

 

[lyndarra]

.

Edited March 4, 2021 by lyndarra
posted in wrong topic

[MMDown Under]

6 minutes ago, NSWP said:

About 3 weeks ago I had a day at Darling Harbour with my son and later on 4 of his mates, bar crawl, lunch. Deserted. I have been to DH a hundred times, never seen it so deserted. Many of the shops and eateries were just closed up. No overseas tourists that is why. It was Week day an raining but.

Prior to the pandemic, I used to visit Sydney at least three times a year.  Now I holiday more within my State than I used to.  I wonder if other interstate domestic tourists are not visiting Sydney also. 

[MMDown Under]

16 minutes ago, lyndarra said:

I had a relaxing weekend at NRMA Myall Shores last weekend. No sailing competition on the Saturday due to lack of wind, and it rained all day. I decided to book an extra night, Sunday, and I'm glad i did as the wind came up on Sunday arvo and those of us  still there had a good sailing/foiling session.

I decided to book again for 3/4/5 December when one of the competition rounds returns but this time I'll be in a Lakeside Villa instead of a caravan. Luxury.

https://www.nrmaparksandresorts.com.au/myall-shores/book-now?sticky_category=20

Lucky you stayed an extra night and were rewarded with a change in the weather.  Enjoy your lakeside villa luxury in December. 

I came across Myall Lakes whilst exploring on a Sydney to Brisbane trip and thought it was a beautiful area.  

[NSWP]

On 3/3/2021 at 6:57 PM, lyndarra said:

Problem for me is that there's nowhere to cruise to.

Lake Macquarie?

Edited March 4, 2021 by NSWP

[NSWP]

4 minutes ago, MMDown Under said:

Lucky you stayed an extra night and were rewarded with a change in the weather.  Enjoy your lakeside villa luxury in December. 

I came across Myall Lakes whilst exploring on a Sydney to Brisbane trip and thought it was a beautiful area.  

Great prawning at Myall Lakes, took our kids there several times in the seventies.

Edited March 4, 2021 by NSWP