The network has renewed us for another season so we’re back for Season 2!
We’ll be doing weekly episodes up until the Federal Election (most likely to be held in May). This episode we look back on the multiple challenges our community has faced from the pandemic to a once in 100-year flood, to war.
Some links from our discussion:
- Juice Media’s Honest Government Ad – United Australia Party
- They Vote For You – pop in your postcode or your local member’s name and see how they voted on bills and legislation.
Each episode we ask our guests what their 3 big ideas are for how we build back better as we emerge from the pandemic.
Andrea’s 3 Big Ideas:
- Action on Climate Change
- Free Uni & TAFE
- Dental & mental health into Medicare
Tim’s 3 Big Ideas:
- Addressing the climate crisis indirectly benefits non-climate issues
- Check MPs & Senators Voting record – previous record of incumbents – did their actions align to your expectations?
- We need to solve the housing affordability crisis – housing is a right
Beyond the Rona Podcast is recorded in Logan, Queensland on Yuggera country. We acknowledge the traditional owners past and present.
If you’re interested in coming on the show, please contact us, we would love to hear from you!
Notes from this episode:
Omicron Outbreak
What went wrong – Fed Gov didn’t provide RATS to QLD, Private pcr testing shut down, covid patients not receiving positive test results for up to 10 days, many deciding not to test, many deciding not to isolate, other health care needs neglected, system overwhelmed for vulnerable people, some people isolated for extended periods of time without pay, loss of support workers for disabled people, food shortages, staff shortages.
Federal response – in charge of sovereign borders, aged care, disability care, vulnerable communities like First Nations, PPE, quarantine, vaccination procurement & delivery, messaging & communication, medicare, testing equipment eg PCRs, RATS, Centrelink Response – Decided to just send essential workers back to work even if test positive to covid to keep economy going. Shortened quarantine time.
State Response – in charge of state borders, vaccination roll out within the state, distribution of RATs and PPE once they arrive in QLD, state based testing clinics, vaccination clinics. Response – Decided to stop truck drivers requiring testing to deliver food to stores. Opened state borders. Held consumer meetings to try to understand what the concerns were on the ground and fix them but really everyone needed RATs. Eventually got PCR results returned quicker and treatment guidelines more streamlined, help lines etc. Improved their AI system – which was terrible!
Peak numbers:
- 2019- 800 deaths from flu
- 909 deaths from covid in 2020
- 1344 deaths from covid in 2021
- 1582 deaths in January (10% excess mortality rate)
- 21.6 million people had at least 1 dose of covid19 vax (84%) – 51 million doses given
- 108,000 reports of reactions – could be anything eg redness
- Approx 3000 cases of suspected pericarditis or myocarditis (no deaths – all recovered)
- 11 deaths in total from covid19 vaccination (AZ)
Discrimination Continues
Religious Discrimination Bill – transgender kids, disabled
Antivax / Anti Mandate believe they are discriminated against
Disability discrimination continues
Implementation of the Aged care Royal Commission continues
Angry voters who want social justice
War
Lots of pieces to the puzzle – very complex
Australia & China relationship strain
China & Russia relationship pact
A,UK,US relationship pact
China interested in USA reaction because they want Taiwan
Russia, Ukraine and NATO
Russia’s exports – oil & gas
Germany – no war, wanted Russia’s oil & gas, withheld weapons being sent to a third party (as the manufacturer) – but now support Ukraine.
Sanctions – SWIFT global banking system
NATO now providing weapons to Ukraine
Message to Russia (and China) to respect the sovereign borders that are in place in the world
Russia, China and India and the United Arab Emirates who seem to vote together now
How do we move towards world peace and a non-violent society?
Flood
Massive “rain bomb” across south east QLD and NSW
⅔ of an entire years rain in 5 days
10 people lost their lives (so far) in QLD
20,000 homes predicted to be fully flooded or partially flooded
Brisbane and Gympie declared disaster areas
Lismore photos – people rescued off roofs, people still trapped in homes underwater
Schools shut (2 days so far)
All public transport – buses and trains shutdown, flights cancelled
Bunnings went under
New IPCC report released – UN says we need more action on Climate Change