I panic about this stuff at every step, so it's nice to have a professional in the family who is much calmer, not to mention, au fait. Btw, sending foot best wishes, but will contact you separately. Ugh, what a thing!
Tim, sorry to add another comment! But I'd be interested to know what your thoughts are on why this government has seen fit to stop Australians from travelling overseas? Its the sort of thing N. Korea does and the soviet states did in the cold war period. Why would an ideologically driven right-wing government for whom 'personal freedom' is a mantra, deny us the right to travel overseas if we feel like it?
Hey, no problem! The basic reason was to limit spread of the virus, esp in the initial stages of the outbreak, and it was a reasonable response, I think. BUT: the net effect was to strand a lot of people o/s and that was down to a lack of quarantine facilities here in Australia. Then there was the criminally slow rollout of the vaccine. So, in the absence of quarantine and vaccine, the only/chief tool they had was border closures, internal and external. Lockdowns in general. In other words, because they buggered up vaccines in particular, but also quarantine, the closed borders, which should have just been a temporary measure has turned into the mess we now have. This is something we must lay at the feet of the Fed Govt, but after the Qld Premier's ridiculous comments yesterday (which I might write about), it is safe to say that some Prems were also willing to back hard borders on the grounds that all travel is an indulgence. Disgraceful and hurtful, as we all know.
Thanks for your thoughts Tim. It seemed pragmatic initially but the continued proscription on allowing Australians to travel overseas seems extremely paternalistic and authoritarian to me.
Thanks for this post Tim, I've been interested in reading about your experience with getting permission. I think you had perhaps an easier time of it because Tanya was going on to work in London. I'm thinking about how my partner and I could get permission to leave given that our only reason would be to visit her sons in the UK. Based on what I've read on the Aus Govt. website that doesn't seem like a compelling enough reason for our government.
Good to know how you went about it, so thanks again.
I really hope you can work something out, Andrew. Sending all best wishes. If you can swing the three-month thing--and I realise not everyone can--I honestly think it is worth a try. What they are trying to avoid, I believe, is people going in and out of the country, and putting a 3-month limit on returns is one way of achieving that. Anyway, good luck. I have. y fingers crossed for you and will be keen to hear how you go.
Thanks very much Tim, its very kind of you to take an interest. Your experience doesn't sound like it was too onerous actually so I remain optimistic. If we do decide to go to UK it is unlikely to be before the end of the year anyway but I'll certainly let you know how the process goes. The three-month commitment is doable for us but there seems to be a requirement to have some compelling reason for travelling and wishing to visit one's (step-) children doesn't seem a strong enough reason. Anyway, thanks very much for your encouragement and I'll keep you posted.
Keep up your posts, please! I'm enjoying the vicarious travelling.
Thanks, Tim. a feel-good story from home: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/sep/24/absolutely-madness-melbourne-teenagers-reveal-they-are-behind-leading-covid-tracking-website
That is fabulous!
Sisyphus is impressed.
Oh god I felt so anxious just reading this, I can't imagine what it was like to actually navigate the process in real time!
I panic about this stuff at every step, so it's nice to have a professional in the family who is much calmer, not to mention, au fait. Btw, sending foot best wishes, but will contact you separately. Ugh, what a thing!
Tim, sorry to add another comment! But I'd be interested to know what your thoughts are on why this government has seen fit to stop Australians from travelling overseas? Its the sort of thing N. Korea does and the soviet states did in the cold war period. Why would an ideologically driven right-wing government for whom 'personal freedom' is a mantra, deny us the right to travel overseas if we feel like it?
Hey, no problem! The basic reason was to limit spread of the virus, esp in the initial stages of the outbreak, and it was a reasonable response, I think. BUT: the net effect was to strand a lot of people o/s and that was down to a lack of quarantine facilities here in Australia. Then there was the criminally slow rollout of the vaccine. So, in the absence of quarantine and vaccine, the only/chief tool they had was border closures, internal and external. Lockdowns in general. In other words, because they buggered up vaccines in particular, but also quarantine, the closed borders, which should have just been a temporary measure has turned into the mess we now have. This is something we must lay at the feet of the Fed Govt, but after the Qld Premier's ridiculous comments yesterday (which I might write about), it is safe to say that some Prems were also willing to back hard borders on the grounds that all travel is an indulgence. Disgraceful and hurtful, as we all know.
Thanks for your thoughts Tim. It seemed pragmatic initially but the continued proscription on allowing Australians to travel overseas seems extremely paternalistic and authoritarian to me.
Thanks for this post Tim, I've been interested in reading about your experience with getting permission. I think you had perhaps an easier time of it because Tanya was going on to work in London. I'm thinking about how my partner and I could get permission to leave given that our only reason would be to visit her sons in the UK. Based on what I've read on the Aus Govt. website that doesn't seem like a compelling enough reason for our government.
Good to know how you went about it, so thanks again.
I really hope you can work something out, Andrew. Sending all best wishes. If you can swing the three-month thing--and I realise not everyone can--I honestly think it is worth a try. What they are trying to avoid, I believe, is people going in and out of the country, and putting a 3-month limit on returns is one way of achieving that. Anyway, good luck. I have. y fingers crossed for you and will be keen to hear how you go.
Thanks very much Tim, its very kind of you to take an interest. Your experience doesn't sound like it was too onerous actually so I remain optimistic. If we do decide to go to UK it is unlikely to be before the end of the year anyway but I'll certainly let you know how the process goes. The three-month commitment is doable for us but there seems to be a requirement to have some compelling reason for travelling and wishing to visit one's (step-) children doesn't seem a strong enough reason. Anyway, thanks very much for your encouragement and I'll keep you posted.
Keep up your posts, please! I'm enjoying the vicarious travelling.