Suddenly the US radical Right is yelling at Australia for their Covid border restrictions, while the French are yelling at the US for sharing nuclear sub technology with Australia, and Green Progressives everywhere are alarmed at Scott Morrison's ultra conservative coal and gas expansion. So time to give Australia it's own current news thread.
Hi America no need to invade us, we are opening up. International travel is starting again from 1st November. Once each state hits 80% double vaccination of the population no more lockdowns, state borders will open up. NSW is at 92.83% of population with 1 dose and 83.73% are fully vaccinated. The other states are catching up.
Its a pandemic, do what works. We did.
So don't worry about us, we are fine. No Invasion necessary.
A US commentator has gone on a tirade against Australia’s “tyrannical” Covid restrictions and suggested the US should send in the troops.
[unlicensed content removed]
Regards to all
@matildagirl I heard this story yesterday and remarked to my wife that Republicans have elevated performance art to a whole new level.
@matildagirl Your post startled me because America has never said or suggested it was going to invade Australia or that Australia needed saving. That subject is so far in the extremes!
Candace Owens is an ultra right conservative political opportunist who works for an ultra right political news company. She is certifiably off the deep end. Like all pundits, she can say anything, and in her case, she will say anything to get clicks. She is not worthy of your concern, at least not yet. By the way didn’t America just give Australia a nuclear submarine? (or nuclear sub technology)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candace_Owens
@jeanne-mayell Hi Jeanne, never thought they would be invading. I think Australia must be the flavour of the month for them to somehow make their anti mask, vaccine etc seem reasonable. We are fine, we wouldn't have gone along with the restrictions etc if we didn't think they were sensible.
May not have necessarily liked them, but understood the logic. For most of the past 18 months we were out and about living normally, it was only once Delta got in a couple of months ago (by the way it came from America, thanks not) and because we hadn't received vaccines until late in the piece we were under vaccinated. We had to really ramp up and when we got Pfizer end of August as well as having Astra Zeneca we were able to get the percentages we needed. There is a good chance we will be 90%+ soon. Generally Australians get vaccinations, I think its usually in the 95% area. I think boosters will be available from December/January.
With the submarines, its a mix of UK/USA technology, we were buying diesel subs from France but there was a deal done and we have cancelled the french contract (which has caused a diplomatic incident) and gone with the nuclear ones and I assume it's because of China, America may be making a point and using us in a not so subtle way. No nuclear weapons involved though. Don't want them, hope that doesn't change. They would be some time down the track I would assume before they would actually be here at all.
Regards to all
Sorry to keep on about the Ted Cruz, Fox, Candace Owens bashing of Australia. I gather from reading this article, we seem to be America’s boogeyman in right-wing imagination.
It seems we are being used as a cautionary tale for Americans, and it started from when we brought in gun control in 1996.
I guess the big fear is Americans might actually like some of these ideas and want change. So scare them with Australia instead.
BOO
@matildagirl the only thing that scares me about Australia is the size of some of your bugs.
Otherwise Australia / most notably a sunrise and sunset over the ocean / is on my bucket list!
We would love to do what Australia did with gun control. It's a model policy. I also think the GOP picked on Australia Covid policies to deflect their own horrific covid fiasco, i.e., the surge in red states. They are so transparent and it's best not to let them get to you. But it is right to name it for what it is. A deflection. When are their media campaigns not some kind of deflection?
@dannyboy Not mad about some of our bugs either. Usually most people don't have any problems with them, that's what a fly screen is for. What I dislike are the cockroaches that usually live outside, they can be a couple of inches and they fly. A swift hit with a fly swatter usually fixes them. Don't like coming across a Huntsman on the wall either, they wont hurt you but they are big buggers, if I can I will try and catch them and put them outside again otherwise, the fly swatter.
One of my bucket list items would be to go to Uluru (the Red Centre) and watch a sunrise and sunset over it and see the colours change on the rock.
Regards to all
@jeanne-mayell A deflection. When are their media campaigns not some kind of deflection?
Keep your population fearful and you can control them is the name of the game.
Regards to all
Hi, some new legislation that is going/gone through Parliament. Would this be something that would frighten right wingers as well?
At the centre of the proposed Privacy Legislation Amendment (Enhancing Online Privacy and Other Measures) Bill are greater protections for young users in the wake of concerning evidence about the ill effects that social media can have on teens’ mental health.
https://www.esafety.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-07/Online%20Safety%20Act%20-%20Fact%20sheet.pdf
Introduction
More than ever, the internet is an essential utility helping us work, learn and communicate effectively. However, as our exposure to the online world increases, so do the risks. In 2015, ground-breaking legislation in the form of Australia’s Enhancing Online Safety Act became law. With it came the creation of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner – the world’s first online safety regulator – with a mandate to keep Australian children safe from online harms. In the six years that followed, eSafety’s remit was extended to protect all Australians. Over the same period we also saw online abuse spread from the major social media sites to new platforms and in new ways. To keep pace, in June 2021 the Australian Government enacted new legislation that gives the eSafety Commissioner improved powers to help protect all Australians from the most serious forms of online harm
https://www.perthnow.com.au/politics/social-media-crackdown-to-protect-children-c-4324386
Regards to all
https://amp.9news.com.au/article/797ff834-9d41-461d-aeae-edbc4e9afe23
Hi, just for a a bit of light relief, the joys of giving a news conference outside in Australia.
Regards to all.
PS. They are big.
Haha! She handled that well. I had to google the Huntsman spider. The things really are big.
@matildagirl, @lovendures This was fun. I just did an obsessive Internet search of Huntsman Spiders. Terrifyingly large. But then when you see them up close, in a photo only, please, they look like goofy walruses with six eyes. @matildagirl If one of those got near me while I was making a public appearance, I wouldn't be nearly as calm as your PM was. Kudos to her.
@lovendures @jeannemayell
I have had quite a few in the house over the years, once one just marched in through the door for a look. Quite often over the bed or in the shower and in the kitchen. Most times I use a big beer stein type of glass to get it over the spider and then slide some cardboard underneath to trap it and take it back outside. Sad to say I have also resorted to fly spray or a fly swatter when I can’t get at them. They give you a bit of a jolt when you spy them. It’s always a bit of fun when you are driving and one peers at you from the sun shade, I almost hit a car that time. One time I knew it was in there because I saw it on the back window, but it was nighttime and I needed to get home, so I gingerly got in and drove home with my skin crawling on my legs thinking is it on me. Made it home, no idea where it went.
Regards to all.
Would you be able to send some healing to the families involved. It is so sad.
Regards to all
@matildagirl Yes, of course I am thinking of those families whose children died so tragically. I will pray for them.