Australia remains divided like never before, with each state and territory setting restrictions on who can cross their borders. #abc730@AngeDonnellan#COVID19Aus#auspol
Even though SA has reported no community transmission of #COVID19 since April, Cass Leech was told she would have to go into two weeks quarantine if she wanted to attend her grandma’s funeral in Tasmania. #abc730#auspol
“My uncle can get on a plane from Tasmania and come (to Adelaide) and he doesn’t have to self-isolate. Why isn’t that reciprocated? If he poses no risk to me, why do I pose a risk to him and Tasmania?” Cass Leech. #abc730#COVID19Aus#auspol
“Epidemiologically there’s no reason why the #borders between South Australia and Tasmania shouldn’t be open. Neither place has community transmission.” Prof. @TonyBlakely_PI, epidemiologist. #abc730#COVID19Aus#auspol
The Tasmanian government says protecting the state remains its top priority, but those who wish to travel there can apply for an exemption or fee waiver on compassionate grounds. #abc730#COVID19Aus#borders#auspol
Tasmania isn’t expected to open its #borders until at least December and WA is shut off from the rest of the country indefinitely. #abc730#COVID19Aus#auspol
“WA is really guarding their elimination strategy. I would say there’s little risk epidemiologically if they opened their #borders to SA, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.” Prof. @TonyBlakely_PI, epidemiologist. #abc730#COVID19Aus#auspol
Cass Leech thinks the system should be more sensitive to people who are dealing with grief. “Have a heart basically. And understand how much this is affecting people.” #abc730#COVID19Aus#borders#auspol
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More than three decades after terrorists brought down an American airliner over Lockerbie in Scotland, families who lost loved ones are finally hoping to see justice. #abc730
“The idea that they were coming home for Christmas and were blown out of the sky and took minutes to fall to earth … you couldn’t sleep when you thought about that.” – Bill Barr, former US Attorney-General #abc730
“It was very rewarding for me personally to be able to bring those additional charges. For me, it was finishing a job that I had started.” – Bill Barr, former US Attorney-General #abc730
Tech billionaire @billgates is one of the best-known figures on the planet, responsible for decades of philanthropy targeting poverty, disease, infant mortality and more recently COVID-19. He spoke to @FergusonNews. #abc730
"I think Australia will be able to export green hydrogen and other clean products. It is certainly a country where the opportunity in a green economy is greater than it has been in the past." – @billgates#abc730
"The cost to be ready for the next pandemic is a rounding error compared to what it takes to re-tool the modern economy to solve climate change." – @billgates#abc730
The days of being swamped with politicians talking about COVID already seem like a long time ago. But the virus continues to run rampant, making a lot of Australians sick and killing many, even if we don't seem to be talking about it publicly as much. #abc730
"The current approach to COVID in Australia is to let it run in a so-called healthy population — that means unfettered transmission largely in the wider population while trying to protect those who are deemed vulnerable ... It is clearly not working." – @CrabbBrendan#abc730
Nearly 18 months after unveiling the AUKUS agreement, the federal government is preparing to announce exactly how it plans on acquiring nuclear-powered submarines. North American correspondent @jademacmillan1 spoke to members of Congress about the path ahead. #abc730
“If AUKUS really works the way it should, there should be contribution into this program from the UK and Australia. And I think that shows that, you know, that’s a force multiplier that can really help take on the larger demand.” – Rep. Joe Courtney, Democrat #abc730
“I think you will definitely see Australians on board US submarines training, for example. Whether we get straight to the point of there’s a combined and integrated Australian and US crew on a US submarine, that will be interesting to see.” – Mark Watson, ASPI #abc730
A referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament will be one of the biggest issues confronting the country next year. @latingle spoke to @mdavisqlder about what the Voice can be, and why she remains optimistic about its future. #abc730
"I think one of the reasons the Voice became the primary focus of Indigenous constitutional recognition is that we actually don't have much input at all into laws and policies that are made about our lives and our communities." – @mdavisqlder#abc730
"There's a lot of noise and it happens in a lot of policy areas in Australia. There's a lot of noise and a lot of advisory committees. There's a lot of talk. There's a lot of reports but there's no coordination. There's no coherency." – @mdavisqlder#abc730
Tasmanians have long wanted their own AFL team, and they’re closer than ever to getting one. But the AFL has made it clear a local team is contingent on the island state building a brand new stadium. #abc730
“Just about everyone I speak to shares my view that it would be unconscionable to spend that sort of money at a time that the state has so many other challenges.” – Andrew Wilkie, Independent MHR #abc730
“This is a huge opportunity for all Tasmanians and can I say, that these are the investments, this is the type of vision, this is the type of commitment that we all need to embrace.” – Jeremy Rockliff, Premier #abc730