All borders to reopen.
And just in, from the West Australian newspaper :-
Support for WA’s hard border remains almost as high as it was a year ago, with the overwhelming majority of West Australians backing Premier Mark McGowan’s stance.
Huge number of West Aussies who still back hard border
Support for WA’s hard border remains almost as high as it was a year ago, with the overwhelming majority of West Australians backing Premier Mark McGowan’s stance.
I’ve noticed The West has a habit of putting loaded headlines on paywalled articles as a draw card to get you to subscribe, and then the article text usually paints a less sensationalist picture. I’d really like to know the specifics of the article and the exact questions the poll asked.
I would assume the questions asked were referring to the situation when the survey was conducted, which was probably over the last few weeks, whilst the double vax rate was only 50%. It will be a different story at 80%.
A question like “do you support a border closure now whilst infections in NSW and Victoria remain high?” is going to get a different response to “do you support support border closures once WA vaccination levels are higher?”.
In a way, as the headline indicates support for the “stance” of the government, as the government is making tangible moves to get ready for reopening then I guess 82% support it according to that headline? Even today there was more talk about this, getting the populace used to it.
I would assume the questions asked were referring to the situation when the survey was conducted, which was probably over the last few weeks, whilst the double vax rate was only 50%. It will be a different story at 80%.
A question like “do you support a border closure now whilst infections in NSW and Victoria remain high?” is going to get a different response to “do you support support border closures once WA vaccination levels are higher?”.
In a way, as the headline indicates support for the “stance” of the government, as the government is making tangible moves to get ready for reopening then I guess 82% support it according to that headline? Even today there was more talk about this, getting the populace used to it.
Last edited by dr dre; 15th Oct 2021 at 14:50.
My take is that most people in WA are happy to leave things as they are for now with an expectation that "opening up" is not that far off anyway.
It has been like this for eighteen months. A couple more is not really intolerable.
I think that the estimation of the extent to which people are yearning for travel, inter-state or international, is over-blown.
As for those busting a gut to get to Bali, have you considered what you're going to do for insurance?
Or to get a bed in a Bali hospital if you need it?
Or to get a flight home if you're Covid-blown or otherwise infected with some unidentified disease?
Huge number of West Aussies who still back hard border
Support for WA’s hard border remains almost as high as it was a year ago, with the overwhelming majority of West Australians backing Premier Mark McGowan’s stance.
The trick is asking the right questions.
1.
2. The vaccine uptake was low due to supply being diverted to NSW. The uptake of the available vaccine in the state is rated as “Fully Utilised” with little to no spare available in the last Health Department weekly update (page 18 )
2. The vaccine uptake was low due to supply being diverted to NSW. The uptake of the available vaccine in the state is rated as “Fully Utilised” with little to no spare available in the last Health Department weekly update (page 18 )
Oh, Gee, McGoose, whodathunkit...You lock out hundreds, if not thousands, of FIFO employees and production goes down...
Gotta love some of the comments in that article: "the third quarter had demonstrated the resilience of Rio’s workforce in dealing with ongoing COVID-19 challenges" - No, what you actually mean is your interstate FIFO workforce that cannot afford to be locked out of the state has all but had a gun held to their head to ensure they remain in WA during their RnR so they can still pay their mortgage - many of these staff, from sparkies to boilermakers through to the ISS staff in the camp have not seen their partners or children in months, and in a few cases close to a year.
And Rio are not the only ones, either...They just look to be the first ones to publicly acknowledge the downgrade...Rio Tinto's one saving grace is they have robot trains - A significant percentage of the rail crews up there, from all 4 major miners, come from outside WA.
Rio Tinto cuts iron ore shipments target amid worker shortage
Mining giant Rio Tinto has slashed its full-year target for shipments of the steel-making raw material iron ore as a severe labour shortage across Western Australia causes project delays.
The mining giant told investors on Friday it now expected to ship between 320 million tonnes and 325 million tonnes of iron ore – Australia’s biggest export – during the 12 months to December 31 after previously targeting as much as 340 million tonnes.
Rio largely attributed the downgrade to delays in commissioning new greenfield mines and mine-expansion projects due to the “tight labour market in WA”. Mining industry leaders say the state’s labour shortage has been exacerbated by coronavirus-related travel restrictions reducing mobility between states. Meanwhile, miners are also having to compete harder for skilled and experienced workers amid a government-backed construction boom on the east coast.
Production has also slowed down across Rio’s operations as the miner puts enhanced focus on Indigenous heritage issues following its ill-fated destruction of the ancient Juukan Gorge rock shelters.
Much of the increase in mining profits was driven by iron ore prices, which climbed well above $US200 a tonne earlier this year. Rio Tinto chief executive Jakob Stausholm on Friday said the third quarter had demonstrated the resilience of Rio’s workforce in dealing with ongoing COVID-19 challenges, but acknowledged it had been “another difficult quarter operationally”.
“Despite improving versus the prior quarter, we recognise the opportunity to raise our performance,” Mr Stausholm said. “We have consequently modestly adjusted our guidance.” Rio’s third-quarter iron ore shipments were 83.4 million tonnes, an increase of 9 per cent on the previous quarter, but 4 per cent lower than the same time last year.
The boom delivered huge profits and bumper dividends across the resources industry and helped bolster Australia’s finances during the depths of the COVID-19 crisis. In 2020-21, iron ore accounted for an extraordinary $150 billion in export earnings.
However, the commodity is now under mounting pressure as Beijing deepens production cuts across its steel mills to curb emissions from one of its worst-polluting industries. After reaching an all-time high of $US230 a tonne earlier this year, iron ore has had its price nearly cut in half and is now below $US120 a tonne. Source
Mining giant Rio Tinto has slashed its full-year target for shipments of the steel-making raw material iron ore as a severe labour shortage across Western Australia causes project delays.
The mining giant told investors on Friday it now expected to ship between 320 million tonnes and 325 million tonnes of iron ore – Australia’s biggest export – during the 12 months to December 31 after previously targeting as much as 340 million tonnes.
Rio largely attributed the downgrade to delays in commissioning new greenfield mines and mine-expansion projects due to the “tight labour market in WA”. Mining industry leaders say the state’s labour shortage has been exacerbated by coronavirus-related travel restrictions reducing mobility between states. Meanwhile, miners are also having to compete harder for skilled and experienced workers amid a government-backed construction boom on the east coast.
Production has also slowed down across Rio’s operations as the miner puts enhanced focus on Indigenous heritage issues following its ill-fated destruction of the ancient Juukan Gorge rock shelters.
Much of the increase in mining profits was driven by iron ore prices, which climbed well above $US200 a tonne earlier this year. Rio Tinto chief executive Jakob Stausholm on Friday said the third quarter had demonstrated the resilience of Rio’s workforce in dealing with ongoing COVID-19 challenges, but acknowledged it had been “another difficult quarter operationally”.
“Despite improving versus the prior quarter, we recognise the opportunity to raise our performance,” Mr Stausholm said. “We have consequently modestly adjusted our guidance.” Rio’s third-quarter iron ore shipments were 83.4 million tonnes, an increase of 9 per cent on the previous quarter, but 4 per cent lower than the same time last year.
The boom delivered huge profits and bumper dividends across the resources industry and helped bolster Australia’s finances during the depths of the COVID-19 crisis. In 2020-21, iron ore accounted for an extraordinary $150 billion in export earnings.
However, the commodity is now under mounting pressure as Beijing deepens production cuts across its steel mills to curb emissions from one of its worst-polluting industries. After reaching an all-time high of $US230 a tonne earlier this year, iron ore has had its price nearly cut in half and is now below $US120 a tonne. Source
And Rio are not the only ones, either...They just look to be the first ones to publicly acknowledge the downgrade...Rio Tinto's one saving grace is they have robot trains - A significant percentage of the rail crews up there, from all 4 major miners, come from outside WA.
And now here I’m getting the classic “if you don’t like it…leave!” Hilarious
Evertonian
short flights long nights
May I ask.. why are you frustrated, Because we are not locked down, don’t have to wear masks.. can go to the pub.. what frustrates you?
It is very tedious having to read you go on and on about how much you loathe Western Australia, its Premier and the "inbred bogans" who live here.
No, I said why don't you focus your bitterness and hatred elsewhere. Perhaps see someone about the problem you have that means you are so consumed with anger and spite about things you have no control over that you can't help yourself post over and over again anonymously insulting strangers about it..
It is very tedious having to read you go on and on about how much you loathe Western Australia, its Premier and the "inbred bogans" who live here.
It is very tedious having to read you go on and on about how much you loathe Western Australia, its Premier and the "inbred bogans" who live here.
Most West Aussies wants to see this all over as soon as possible.
And the comfortable life that we have been living has dis-incentivised far too many of the younger cohort from lining up.
But any possible benefits to be had by opening up prematurely are insufficient to justify throwing grandma onto the cooking fire.
I think that's about right.
Most West Aussies wants to see this all over as soon as possible.
And the comfortable life that we have been living has dis-incentivised far too many of the younger cohort from lining up.
But any possible benefits to be had by opening up prematurely are insufficient to justify throwing grandma onto the cooking fire.
Most West Aussies wants to see this all over as soon as possible.
And the comfortable life that we have been living has dis-incentivised far too many of the younger cohort from lining up.
But any possible benefits to be had by opening up prematurely are insufficient to justify throwing grandma onto the cooking fire.
May I ask.. why are you frustrated, Because we are not locked down, don’t have to wear masks.. can go to the pub.. what frustrates you?
Anyway WA is going to struggle next year if they want to keep it up. Rio have just started with production slow down due lack of staff. If they are having problems good luck finding anyone to work on a farm or in a remote town next year. If they don't want to open up it could blowup their whole economy as it grinds to halt. All very well to have lots of fully paid office workers sipping their morning latte but at the end of the day without people at the literal coalface nothing happens regardless of which industry you are in.
Maybe something to do with the economic impact of a hard closed border, North Korean style approach to governance. If I took away all your income for a few years and put you on the dole I think you would feel differently about it.
Anyway WA is going to struggle next year if they want to keep it up. Rio have just started with production slow down due lack of staff. If they are having problems good luck finding anyone to work on a farm or in a remote town next year. If they don't want to open up it could blowup their whole economy as it grinds to halt. All very well to have lots of fully paid office workers sipping their morning latte but at the end of the day without people at the literal coalface nothing happens regardless of which industry you are in.
Anyway WA is going to struggle next year if they want to keep it up. Rio have just started with production slow down due lack of staff. If they are having problems good luck finding anyone to work on a farm or in a remote town next year. If they don't want to open up it could blowup their whole economy as it grinds to halt. All very well to have lots of fully paid office workers sipping their morning latte but at the end of the day without people at the literal coalface nothing happens regardless of which industry you are in.
You are spot on !!! I can tell you how frustrating it is to speak to people here in WA and they can't see past there nose !!!
It is very tedious having to read you go on and on about how much you loathe Western Australia, its Premier and the "inbred bogans" who live here.
Is someone making you read his/her posts?
Maybe within Australia you are doing better, but come the end of this year, I’d argue NSW (and maybe VIC in January) are going to have pretty similar quality of life, yet living with COVID.
Plenty of countries around the world are allowed to do all of the things you mention RIGHT NOW, with Covid cases…. Almost all of Europe is like this. The reality is once high rates of vaccination are achieved, the world moves on.
A lot of EU countries pushed vaccinations with various measures and then set a date to open up. McGowan needs to do the same. The people of WA need a reason to hurry and get vaccinated. At the moment I don’t think they have one.
PS, if you think WA will always be able to live like this without getting vaccinated, you’re living in La La Land. It’s inevitable that COVID will eventually get in. Same applies for QLD and the other states. So for this reason they also need to hurry up!!
I have 2 remote groups in SA and WA scheduled for their first dose on the 20th and 22nd Oct, these were scheduled weeks ago back in August. I was alarmed at how far away that was, now that the time approaches I worry that something goes wrong on the day. There has been no hesitancy but I'm aware it exists in the suburbs of the capital cities, you guys in Perth would know more about that.
I believe Marshall Stevens and Emperor McGowan are right not to set a date for opening, it's too crushing when it doesn't happen, one just needs to look at NSW to see what happens.
As we approach 80% double dosed I would expect more urgency around the need to get vaxxed for opening the borders and I would expect that to occur around mid November.
As I see it all going well, I should expect SA WA and the NT will open their borders about mid December and I would expect scomo to open the International border at the same time.
The best thing you guys can do is encourage the deliberate stragglers in the burbs particularly the teenagers, "come on get it done the virus will be here for Christmas" lets try not to have any covid illness until after the new year.
I believe Marshall Stevens and Emperor McGowan are right not to set a date for opening, it's too crushing when it doesn't happen, one just needs to look at NSW to see what happens.
As we approach 80% double dosed I would expect more urgency around the need to get vaxxed for opening the borders and I would expect that to occur around mid November.
As I see it all going well, I should expect SA WA and the NT will open their borders about mid December and I would expect scomo to open the International border at the same time.
The best thing you guys can do is encourage the deliberate stragglers in the burbs particularly the teenagers, "come on get it done the virus will be here for Christmas" lets try not to have any covid illness until after the new year.