Hi it’s me I am once again standing in a queue for a rapid test (to support a household waiting to emerge from iso) which may or may not still be in stock by the time I reach the front. This is the indisputable result of government failure. It’s this bad in Sydney: how much worse is it in the regions?
I am in a position to pay for the tests: how much worse is it for those who don’t?
I am able to support people with Covid: how many people in this line might be infected and have to try and procure some for themselves?

“We are now at this stage of the pandemic we just cannot make everything free.”

Sorry to everyone who can’t afford up to $30 per RAT, you can either stand in a queue or suffer! The government doesn’t care about you. dailytelegraph.com.au/coronavirus/ns… “The Prime Minister said…people would need to take responsibility for “managing their own health” at home.”

How do you reckon we are going to do that when there are no RATs, no oximeters, and getting a doctor on the phone to discuss symptoms takes 96 hours after a positive PCR?

I am currently supporting someone with Omicron and let me tell you: this experience has done nothing except convince me Australia’s governments has squandered every opportunity we gave them by getting so thoroughly vaccinated and cooperating with their lockdowns. (Short thread.) The person I am supporting was turned away from a Sydney testing clinic on the 27th after two positive rapid tests. They then had to arrive at 5.45am on the 28th in the cold and rain and stand on their feet in the queue until 8.20am. They had every Omicron symptom by this point.

Someone I’m currently supporting who was already clearly unwell with every listed Omicron symptom and returning multiple positive RATs queued, on foot, at 5.45am until 8.20am, in the rain, just after Christmas to get a PCR test.

https://twitter.com/rosebjackson/status/1477484758858809347

I’ve been optimistic about living with Covid but it feels as though NSW’s faith in getting highly vaccinated and returning to normality has been rewarded with chronically subpar management. When there’s been this much time to prepare I think it’s completely unacceptable

Seeing alarm about October freedoms on the timeline: anecdotally speaking, so far I don’t think there has been a better incentive to get the jab than vaxxed picnic spring. I fully expect putting gym, pub, church, hairdresser on the table will push more people over the line. I had mates waiting for Pfizer, or who didn’t mind hanging off til October. Gladys put picnics on the table and everyone I know who was waiting absolutely scrambled and got appointments made or moved up to get done by September 13. Far as I’m concerned, incentives work.

I’m sorry but it’s a little bit funny to me that all these Byron Bay businesses are furiously refusing to let Netflix film them because they’re worried that...simply documenting their patrons and the town in general is going to make them look silly? I mean it is going to make some of you look silly but that’s because you’re cashing in on influencer culture, actively feeding into and encouraging it, you are it, so forth.

I was the local reporter at the Fairfield Advance (@fairfieldadvanc) for almost two years, and have worked elsewhere in Fairfield City since I was 18. Here's why this is utterly horrifying - and goes way beyond not "taking an in-principle stance" against pokies.

https://twitter.com/Studio10au/status/1099818605250834433

Pokies are causing "considerable harm" in Fairfield City, and have for many years now. Fairfield is at the most risk of harm from pokies from any area in Sydney - and has the second highest risk of harm in the entire state. dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/fair…