Covid Australia: Every Disaster Movie Starts With A Scientist Being Ignored.

Updated: 1st January 2022

It's the last day of 2021 and Australian heads are spinning. Instead of entering the New Year with all the usual expectation of potential and possibilities Australians now find themselves feeling angry and confused. The fear amongst many is palpable. 

 

In 1st wave, the Liberal National Coalition (LNP) Govt chose to sacrifice Australia’s elderly, until under state govts. took the imitative to start closing borders, initiate covid testing and mask wearing. All whilst Morrison told Australia he was 'off to the footy' that weekend.

 

This time the same govt has chosen to put Australian babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers at risk; these as hospitals overseas are experiencing surges in paediatric hospital admissions. 

 

The Australian Govt and State Govts are acting AGAINST advice of Australian Medical Association (AMA).

 

Not for the first time the Scott Morrison, Liberal National Coalition Govt has placed industry lobbyists and self-interest ahead of vulnerable Australians.

 

A growing number of Australians are equally disgusted with state Premiers for signing off on this. This had already been gaining momentum in Tasmania since around the 17th December 2021 when the state govt reopened the borders. Within hours Tasmanian's being notified of close and casual infections surfacing within a community, which had largely been Covid free. 

 

Today (12/31/2021) the Tasmanian Govt announced that it would no longer require mandatory testing for interstate members of the public entering the state. Whilst those attempting to obtain tests are reporting being informed not all testing costs will be covered by Medicare. Tasmania is a state with a healthcare system struggling on a good day and it's already clear, their contact and trace systems have become overwhelmed and no all but abandoned. 

Image: Aus Medical Assoc.

Madness, given Tasmanian Govt's own modeling showed:

Modelling scenarios

Borders open with no public health measures in place, but a high level of contact tracing

• 77,000 cases in 200 days
• 214 deaths
• 387 cases a day
• 636 cases in hospital, and 168 in intensive care during the peak of the outbreak

Borders open with current public health measures in place, and high level of contact tracing

• 52,000 cases in 200 days
• 87 deaths
• Possible daily peak of 242 cases
• 242 cases hospitalised, and 68 in intensive care at peak of outbreak

Borders open with increased public health measures, and high level of contact tracing

• 43,000 cases in 200 days
• 60 deaths
• 213 cases a day
• 179 cases hospitalised, and 56 in intensive care at the peak of outbreak.
•  

Yet within 17 day of opening the state to travelers, the state govt has decided to scale down contact tracing. Today (01/01/2022) 19 days after opening the state borders confirmed cases of Covid19 in Tasmania have sky rocketed from ZERO to 428 in <19days and there doesn't appear to be any modeling available for this scenario. Why not? Where is the modeling? How did Tasmania come to the conclusion it did?

 

There is every possibility that Tasmanian Hospitals will not cope with a rapidly escalating covid outbreak and if Tasmania follows overseas patterns - it does NOT have a dedicated children's hospital. Most Tasmanian's seem oblivious that the state's sickest children are normally made as stable as possible and flown to Melbourne - often with dedicated Paediatric Emergency Teams FROM Melbourne.

 

If Scott, (I refuse to call him Prime Minister, as an infected hair follicle on Disraeli’s ball sack would have make a better PM), wants Australians to ‘take responsibility for your own health’, I suggest we do this at next election and consign the Liberal & National Parties to history.

 

Australia was in a unique position, it had been hard fought for and within less than a month and against scientific and medical advice - it has been all too casually tossed aside, along with the health and lives of babies, toddlers, pre-schoolers, cancer patients, the immunocompromised.

 

Incidently, those Rapid Antigen Kits the Australian Govt is promising.... how many of you are aware, Australia LOST the development of these kits to the USA, because the Australian Govt wouldn't provide funding support - and the USA would. So again R&D was lost overseas: just add to the list after: black box flight recorder, solar panels, rapid chargers for EV's, Bluetooth, Ultra sound technology, LAN technology etc. Prime Minister Paul Keating set up CRCs (Critical Research Centres) to get Australian inventions moving toward commercial reality ..... the LNP killed it and under Abbott they also peeled back funding to bodies such as the CSIRO.  

Clearly LNP govts don't 'do' science - nor compassion. 

News Links: 

01/01/2022: Covid updates: Hospitalisations rise as NSW and Victoria record increase in coronavirus cases

01/01/2022: Victoria reaches daily record of 7,442 new COVID-19 cases, goverment disagreement around restrictions revealed. 

01/01/2022: NSW records 22,577 new COVID-19 cases and four deaths as number of people in ICU increases

01/01/2022:  Summer holiday 'staycations' become more palatable amid pandemic pain.

01/01/2022: Mask mandate expanded as Queensland records 2,266 new cases of COVID-19

 12/30/2021: Tasmanian Simon Boot talks through managing COVID-19 at home in a 'virtual ward'

12/31/2021 COVID@Home Program

12/29/2021: Tasmania's COVID-19 messaging evolves, with onus shifting to public for contact track and trace

11/16/2021: Some Tasmanians concerned about border reopening, but Premier Peter Gutwien says health care is ready.

10/22/2021: Tasmanian travel restrictions will ease on December 15. This is what the modelling shows will happen. 

Other Useful Links:

News Fact Check by RMIT & ABC

World Health Stats

Department of Health, Tasmania. Covid.

Tasmania Covid Exposure Sites.

Australian Medical Association

IN FULL: PM Scott Morrison announces new definition of close contacts | ABC News

 

 

State of Rowing & Launceston City Council- Update

Update written: 24th October 2018.

Copy provided to Rowing Tasmania, prior to posting.

 

Today, I’d like to thank all those who have provided feed back on previous blogs. Whether positive or negative all is valuable.

Speaking out publicly, placing issues within the public domain, forces questions to be asked some of which may eventually be answered. When this occurs, or new information becomes available, I’m always happy to provide a blog update.

However, this blog is my own, the opinions and thoughts expressed, are my own.

It is my considered opinion that when faced with a political environment which is not being open and transparent, local media which has become nothing more than a ‘cut and paste’ from prepackaged media release(s) and with 60% of the nation’s media organisations owned or controlled by one media mogul; we have a social and civic duty to ask questions and provide information to the larger community.

If this means that I am perceived as a ‘revolutionary’, a ‘S*** Stir’, ‘difficult’ what ever else, then so be it.

Also, lets keep in mind that Launceston is in the midst of a municipal council election and a Federal election is due in 2019. These being, the opportune moments, to lift the carpet, ask difficult questions and speak out where they have not been forth coming.

Right. Lets get to business on these updates.

First to the matter of Rowing Tasmania. Relations between the Tasmanian peak body and Tasmanian Rowing Clubs, is largely symbiotic, but has by no means always been on calm waters.

During the process of researching the history of Northern Tasmania’s early rowing days, I stumbled upon some material which suggests; early last century there may have been an attempt to form a break away, state body. At one point, two bodies did exist – The Tasmanian Rowing Association and a Tasmanian Rowing Union. Things must have been pretty bad!

As to the current situation, my updated understanding is as follows.

To date Rowing Tas has received $5000 from the Launceston City Council and $25,000 from the current Liberal, Tasmanian State Govt. This money is for the preliminary part, of the Launceston Rowing Precinct project development including: liaising with those clubs and schools looking to locate into the new rowing precinct. Creation and feed back of plans, modeling etc. Reliable sources indicate this project will only go ahead with funding from outside sources – not from the coffers of Rowing Tasmania itself. Should external funding not be available, the project will simply not be achievable.

The Pontoon which Rowing Tasmania and the Launceston City Council are proposing to use for the entire precinct, is owned jointly by St Patrick’s College and the North Esk Rowing Club.

The Launceston City Council decided and the stakeholders informed at meeting on the 19^th May 2018. This does not reflect the original situation as discussed and agreed to between LCC, North Esk Rowing Club and a private benefactor when the repairs and extensions to the pontoon where originally, put on the table at North Esk - discussed and agreed to between these three parties.

In fact post the meeting on 19^th May, North Esk were somewhat shell shocked, to say the very least. However, this may actually turn out to be to St Patrick College and North Esk Rowing Club’s advantage in the longer term.

Whilst these two organisations will retain ownership and management of the pontoon, there are still serious concerns from both organisations as to the practicality of boating an entire rowing precinct from one pontoon already running at capacity (which is why the size was doubled post 2016 flood) plus and the existence of the new foot bridge creating bottle necks – particularly with quick moving tides or flood waters.

A second pontoon on the other side of the bridge would be a more sensible proposal and practical solution.

Now to Rowing Tasmania itself. I’ve been advised recently that, the hiring of employees by Rowing Tasmania has been out sourced to (*find and insert company name here?*) and therefore - independent.

Within Tasmania there is an entire generation, almost completely unrepresented within the coaching ranks. This is not the fault of any organization, nor is this a criticism of any coach. It is simply the way things are.

Tasmania does have some exceptional coaching talent, which would be greatly enhanced and supported with the introduction of ‘new blood’. In deed a prime example of this was the arrival of Sam La Compt from New Zealand during the 1990s.

Fresh ideas and perspective would be of great benefit statewide, particularly within development programs and coach mentoring.

The other issue is the perception by many that the sovereignty and independence of their clubs are under threat.

Whilst Revolutionize Sport is an outstanding platform which has greatly improved efficiency of administration for those clubs and schools using it; there are parameters and restrictions which are not only causing some internal issues for users, unnecessary work for state bodies. In some instances these could be interpreted as conflicting with the autonomy of organisations. This is a situation, which needs rectifying ASAP. Not only for practicality, but also to alleviate the fore mentioned concerns.

The best publicity any community or government body – or, indeed any large project for that matter, is through open communication, community engagement, regular updates and transparency.

Whilst we are on the matter of autonomy, independence and asset management / protection of community organisations; I must also add an update on Launceston City Council matters. However, that will have to be part 2 for another blog.

LNP Drought Policy, or lack there of.

An enormous part of Australia is currently in drought. An area which includes: Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, and what is the latest LNP reaction? 

To take money from the NDIS for future droughts. Yes, that’s right. To take support money from those in society, who need it most. Standard Liberal Party / National Party policy really. The LNP are claiming NDIS is now being funded from other source - But which sources?

The only reason Government should get involved in drought assistance is for the greater public good.

The imperatives of Govt. getting involved in drought assistance need to be:

1. Assisting farmers (and industries) to maintain perennial plantings.

2. Preserve the breeding stock, of livestock.

3. Protect the environment.

4. Prevent 1000’s of farmers ‘walking the streets’ because they’ve gone broke, but then this is part of the reason society provides general welfare to it’s population. A point lost on the conservative politicians of this nation.

What the LNP are failing to grasp, is that you don’t write drought policy in the middle of a drought! Just as one should never go to the supermarket when hungry…

LNP Drought Policy 2018.

So, here’s a hint for Australia’s politicians. If they are serious about assisting farmers. 

Let farmers do some of their own drought preparation from profits during the ‘good times’. Quite simply by providing tax concessions for this purpose. Concessions such as accelerated depreciation on equipment such as irrigation. The greatest issue here will be farmers on the margin, who may never make enough profit to do this before the next drought. Traditionally those farmers who have survived best in drought have been those with other sources of income.

The current drought through southeastern Australia has also cost Tasmanian farmers. Let me explain.

Whilst parts of Tasmania have had a perfectly normal / average rainfall season, the mainland drought has reduced live stock sale value over the last six months.

Why? Because the drought is causing excess live stock to come onto the market, thereby flooding the market. This in turn pushes farmers who have live stock going to market as part of their normal sales / income cycle, to sell into an already flooded market. Farmers, such as those in Tasmania, are forced to do so, or risk becoming overstocked and without cash flow themselves.

Perhaps the real secret to surviving drought is not to rely on agriculture as the sole source of income. Particularly in a nation with a Government, which, not only refuses to accept Climate Change Science, but also is actively working contrary to that advice!

The only conclusion one can read into the situation, which, Australia now finds itself in; being that the entire LNP coalition need to go back to High School and let this year's TCE / VCE / HSC / IB etc. students run the nation… 

..... and this drought is only just getting started. The further we get into summer, the greater this drought is going to be.....