Strangely I mentioned in passing the situation in Australia on another thread. I suggested it has descended almost into a police state.
//it doesn't indicate that the whole of Australia and every Aussie has 'lost it'.//
No it doesn’t. But lots of other things do. Added to those which Togo has outlined you can include this (cribbed by me from an Australian Press article):
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The government of South Australia, one of the country’s six states, developed and is now testing an app as Orwellian as any in the free world to enforce its quarantine rules. Returning travellers quarantining at home will be forced to download an app that combines facial recognition and geolocation. The state will text them at random times, and thereafter they will have 15 minutes to take a picture of their face in the location where they are supposed to be. Should they fail, the local police department will be sent to follow up in person. “We don’t tell them how often or when, on a random basis they have to reply within 15 minutes,” Premier Steven Marshall explained. “I think every South Australian should feel pretty proud that we are the national pilot for the home-based quarantine app.”
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Far from being proud, if I were an Australian citizen I would be absolutely appalled that my government was even considering such a measure. More than that, although this is only proposed for quarantine for returning international travellers (if and when they are ever allowed to travel) I would be concerned about “mission creep.” Politicians have a habit of assuming “temporary” powers, never to relinquish them.
Then there’s this:
https://news.yahoo.com/australian-state-limits-residents-covid-222049492.html
“Residents in apartment buildings that have been locked down by Australia‘s New South Wales state health department over COVID-19 concerns say they have had their deliveries searched and have had packages containing alcohol confiscated if the amount exceeds the department’s prescribed alcohol limit.”
Perhaps seekeerz could comment on these two stories because I only know what I have read. But one thing demonstrates perhaps why the Australian government has been allowed to get away with imposing such restrictions:
//…how do you hope to get on top of anything when people behave like this !!//
The fundamental problem is believing you can “get on top of” a virus. It spreads. It will always spread, even in a place like Australia (as you have discovered). Australia seems to have descended into a hermit police state when what it really needs to do is to crack on with vaccinating people. That’s the only route out of the disastrous situation it now finds itself in.
//if Australia has lost anything, it's sight of the fact that a "zero covid" policy is doomed to failure.//
Indeed. PM Morrison I think now realises this, but there are many cranks and lunatics who continue to call for ever harsher measures. I am surprised at our Australian friends putting up with such behaviour but perhaps, like here in the UK, their biggest mistake was allowing their government to secure unchecked powers. Our Parliament (nor any other worthy of the title) should never, ever, do so again.