Quick - Politicians, run away!
 

Just can't help the feeling that our national and state leaders are gutless, scared, out of control, frightened-drunk on power and entirely reactive. Why are they shutting parliaments down? What for?
Never a time when leadership was more required, surely they should be on a war footing, 24/7, crisis bunker rooms, fight them on the bbq, enemy within and all that.

Now there's to be no scrutiny, executive orders able to be enacted at the stroke of a ministers pen under far reaching health security legislation, whatever that is.
Rolling back what's being rolled out will be impossible. Bit of a worry I think.

I was going to start a thread called “let’s make that permanent” but you beat me to it. This is how Australia got six pm pub closing for 40 years - it was enacted as a war time measure.

I can see 7am-8am supermarket priority time as a new example, also perhaps alcohol sales limits.

Queensland council elections still going ahead.
It’s the only mass gathering allowed.

At least there won't be any how-to-vote cards shoved down your throats this time.

It’s effectively rule by the executive branch now. Various prerogative and other powers (some untested, but who has a few lazy millions lying around to argue...) are being exercised that do not need legislative backing. Before the Federal Parliament rose, it voted the Federal government a $40billion credit card, in addition to the financial assistance measures costing billions.

(For those who keep talking about bio security legislation in other threads, it’s worth taking the time to see what those laws actually authorise. Yes: They include very broad powers. No: They don’t authorise making any **** up as you go along.)

Make no mistake: In Australia, government is done to you, not for you.

In a competition between the survival of the government and the survival of the private citizen, the private citizens loses.

My short term concerns with this whole issue is the lack of direction from the federal government. Firstly I'd drag all the states into line and impose harsh restrictions. I can't believe some states have schools in and others out.
As for the long term. A lot of my peers (probably a vast percentage of the adult population) are now sitting idle wondering about the future and how we and our children will ever be able to live once the wave passes. A solid direction is what is needed.

This is the first real threat this country has seen since WW2.

Clarky - a fascinating idea that you would "drag all the states into line and impose harsh restrictions".
Check out the Federal Constitution - wartime is definitely a federal issue as is national border control, passports/visas etc, but health is not.
However even the so-called "Border Force" is only a re-badged customs and excise branch, the way I read it the State Police retain most of the powers, and the Federal Health and Education Departments only wield power because Canberra has all the money.

The Federation is showing cracks under the COVID-19 attack because the States retain all powers not mentioned in the Federal Constitution, that includes health, education, state border control, shopping hours, liquor licensing and most draconian of all - police and civil liberties.
It will be interesting to see how Australia, as a Federation, survives this plague.

Real time tracking, coming to a mobile phone near you. Try and unwind that in 12 months time.

Mr Approach, thanks for the explanation with respect to the constitution, I'm like 90% of the General population and are naive/ ignorant of its workings.
With respect to this bug, I would consider it a federal issue. I know it is a health issue and therefore not technically "war" but I consider that semantics. Italy is losses are the equivalent of 2 widebody aircraft a day. 2 other countries are losing 1 widebody a day and another 3 countries are losing a narrow body a day. (26/3). I feel we need to be prepared for this even if some rules need to be tightened.

I suppose one could always turn it OFF

CC

Can the PM do a close down like NZ or does that have to be state by state

Funny how people are still going to Dan Murphy but to vote too risky?

NZ has the luxury of only one government who administer internal and domestic affairs, not a bunch of states who have their own little domestic pyramid to protect and a federal level for external and some domestic.
I can just imagine Vic, NSW and Qld handing over complete control of schools, health and travel to the Feds.

Interesting article on powers of States during this time. The short answer is that the States can do anything that is appropriate and proportionate to protect public health (ie very wide ranging)
https://theconversation.com/states-a...allowed-134354

Just announced all gun shops to be closed in WA..." these preventative measures are being taken in the interests of community safety"....
Amazing

And also in WA, inter 'regional' travel to be prohibited wef midnight Tues 31st. (11.59pm was the time stipulated), other than for 'essential services' or some 'compassionate' grounds.

All are being reminded to CANCEL pre-booked school hoilidays ex Perth to the SW or to the NW or to A N Y W H E R E.........

To be confirmed in tonight's news programs...............

Cheeerrrsss.....

Fark... I'm starting to see the sense in the argument that says the disease cannot be worse than the cure.
FIFO workers from NSW now banned from WA

Not entirely true. I live in NSW and I work for an offshore helicopter company with bases in WA and we have exemptions to travel and not self isolate.

Five months in and the executive still is running away.
Nice piece from PVO today in the Oz, think the only journo I've seen calling them out.
It's extraordinary how ordinary the extraordinary has become.

This China Virus is a golden opportunity handed to them on a plate for our corrupt Govt to take control of its sheeple in a way never seen before in modern times! The grubs have destroyed this nation especially Victoria! It won't end here, the flood gates are wide open now!

Do you have a better idea of how to manage the situation?