This is a great piece Daniel. It is indeed disturbing the place that Australia is becoming. You're right about absence of leadership. QLD premier making decisions based on secret polling while hiding behind "medical advice" from unelected bureaucrats. The country has some form of Stockholm syndrome as a result. As an Aussie expat in NYC promoting Australian products for the last decade, the government as you point out seems to be risking the very reasons we want to be promoters. A worthy piece!
Hi Daniel, our family has just returned from five years in Europe and have now been back in Sydney for 6 months. You have captured everything in your article that I have been thinking and feeling since returning ( and before) … it’s heart breaking on so many levels what we have become as a nation. And I feel alone with an alternative perspective. If only Australian media could be brave enough to offer a different narrative. Thanks for your piece, I completely relayed to it and it made my day.
Writing from Amsterdam. This piece is on the money. You've perfectly echoed the many conversations we've been having over here too. Thanks for putting it all so eloquently.
Of the many, many ways one could criticise Australia’s handling of COVID-19, focusing this piece on the one that impacts you feels incredibly selfish. Hard to feel sorry for someone who’s been to so many different countries and parts of the US over the last 18 months. My sympathy also wouldn’t extend to someone who lists expats unable to return home as those seeking asylum from persecution in the same breath.
Daniel, I’ve shared the piece with everyone I know, including a journo in Sydney with a suggestion that he contact you for an interview. Thank you for articulating every nuance of our plight as expats and brothers and sisters. I hope you make it back to Oz for the wedding, postponed or otherwise. You indeed are an asset to our great land. With regards from NYC.
Hi Daniel, hope you are well. Congratulations on a brilliant piece - I am so glad that it landed in my inbox. I will admit that I shed a tear while reading it. In the now 8 years since I have lived abroad, I have spent the last year and a half watching my country spiral out of control while I wait for the chance to hug my family and to introduce them to my kids. For the first time in my life it has become blatantly obvious to me that the future of Australia is indeed questionable. Moreover, I am amazed how a large majority of it's citizens seem to be accepting of the police state that it has become. Thank you for so eloquently voicing my concerns and heart-break. It feels good to see that other people share in my frustration. Stay safe!
Really well written article Daniel. Our plans for going home have significantly changed due to everything you've stated in your article. Who would have thought that after 10years living abroad, returning to Australia would be a less desirable option socially, economically & politically for us. The UAE (where I live) has handled their covid response admirably with compassion & respect to both their citizens & residents. If only I could say the same for Australia.
Nicely put Daniel, this was shared on an Aussie Expat group I'm part of in Dubai. Sadly, there are more and more of my fellow expats that are now planning to never return to Australia, because of the way it has changed.
I am in the Riverina of NSW with no cases ever of Corona viruses yet we are locked down like the rest of our State, wearing masks outside while walking on your own, not allowed to visit another home, golf restricted to 2 people, yet our local State & Federal members are silent. I had my 1st vaccine in March, the 2nd in June & the MPs probably think "so what?" It means zero as we treated like people who haven't bothered & are now rushing to get jabbed as the Delta rages & no doubt we are subjected to months of this.
I agree with you on many points, but assuming that getting the jab, wearing face masks and acceding to any type of quarantine anywhere at any time is ludicrous. You've yourself lost the plot if you've been ingesting so much American media. Sky News in Oz has done a fabulous job of reporting on why this is all bunk. If you haven't already found out about James at CorbettReport.com, I suggest you do so, and quickly: your sanity clearly needs a refresh.
A beautifully written article. While Covid is an emotive subject, on which I agree with your point of view, the main point you raise is, where to from here.
You did miss the nail bars in your description of what Australia does, but other than that, perfect!
I feel multiple Australian administrations/administrators, by failing to set achievable, exciting visions for us, have failed to challenge the country's potential. In fact, Governments administrative, zero risks, status quo approach may have actively discouraged it. I was lucky, I was born in the early 60's we had extraordinary achievable visions and opportunities, plus we had extraordinary fun achieving them.
There is a line I have always attributed to Noel Pearson (though I've never been able to find it), "A Governments (sole) job is to, raise the horizon of what might be achieved, and release the potential of the nation". Imagine that, wouldn't that be fun.
Daniel, I hope you get back, and when you do, I hope you stay.
Also good for Kin Group, for allowing you the opportunity to speak.
My expat friend sent me your article. I agree a lot with your sentiment, my husbands family is the UK and are so eager to meet our new baby.
But even when vaccinated, you can pass the virus onto others. Aus is simply not vaccinated enough currently to cope with that. We all wish we were.
To say the snap lockdown are emotionally draining etc from America, personally living through them, I much prefer them then the anxiety around my loved ones being exposed and dying of covid.
The loss of life in the states is bigger then all the world wars. I can’t get my head around that.
I hope you can get home soon, and more importantly safely for you and also for our vulnerable population.
This is a great piece Daniel. It is indeed disturbing the place that Australia is becoming. You're right about absence of leadership. QLD premier making decisions based on secret polling while hiding behind "medical advice" from unelected bureaucrats. The country has some form of Stockholm syndrome as a result. As an Aussie expat in NYC promoting Australian products for the last decade, the government as you point out seems to be risking the very reasons we want to be promoters. A worthy piece!
Hi Daniel, our family has just returned from five years in Europe and have now been back in Sydney for 6 months. You have captured everything in your article that I have been thinking and feeling since returning ( and before) … it’s heart breaking on so many levels what we have become as a nation. And I feel alone with an alternative perspective. If only Australian media could be brave enough to offer a different narrative. Thanks for your piece, I completely relayed to it and it made my day.
Writing from Amsterdam. This piece is on the money. You've perfectly echoed the many conversations we've been having over here too. Thanks for putting it all so eloquently.
Mate. Sitting in Hong Kong it's like you dragged these words straight from my head... And then articulated them in a way I never could.
18 months ago we had a 5yr plan to be home in Oz. Now we are actively looking for other alternatives. We're not sure we can go back.
Of the many, many ways one could criticise Australia’s handling of COVID-19, focusing this piece on the one that impacts you feels incredibly selfish. Hard to feel sorry for someone who’s been to so many different countries and parts of the US over the last 18 months. My sympathy also wouldn’t extend to someone who lists expats unable to return home as those seeking asylum from persecution in the same breath.
Daniel, I’ve shared the piece with everyone I know, including a journo in Sydney with a suggestion that he contact you for an interview. Thank you for articulating every nuance of our plight as expats and brothers and sisters. I hope you make it back to Oz for the wedding, postponed or otherwise. You indeed are an asset to our great land. With regards from NYC.
Hi Daniel, hope you are well. Congratulations on a brilliant piece - I am so glad that it landed in my inbox. I will admit that I shed a tear while reading it. In the now 8 years since I have lived abroad, I have spent the last year and a half watching my country spiral out of control while I wait for the chance to hug my family and to introduce them to my kids. For the first time in my life it has become blatantly obvious to me that the future of Australia is indeed questionable. Moreover, I am amazed how a large majority of it's citizens seem to be accepting of the police state that it has become. Thank you for so eloquently voicing my concerns and heart-break. It feels good to see that other people share in my frustration. Stay safe!
Really well written article Daniel. Our plans for going home have significantly changed due to everything you've stated in your article. Who would have thought that after 10years living abroad, returning to Australia would be a less desirable option socially, economically & politically for us. The UAE (where I live) has handled their covid response admirably with compassion & respect to both their citizens & residents. If only I could say the same for Australia.
Nicely put Daniel, this was shared on an Aussie Expat group I'm part of in Dubai. Sadly, there are more and more of my fellow expats that are now planning to never return to Australia, because of the way it has changed.
I am in the Riverina of NSW with no cases ever of Corona viruses yet we are locked down like the rest of our State, wearing masks outside while walking on your own, not allowed to visit another home, golf restricted to 2 people, yet our local State & Federal members are silent. I had my 1st vaccine in March, the 2nd in June & the MPs probably think "so what?" It means zero as we treated like people who haven't bothered & are now rushing to get jabbed as the Delta rages & no doubt we are subjected to months of this.
I agree with you on many points, but assuming that getting the jab, wearing face masks and acceding to any type of quarantine anywhere at any time is ludicrous. You've yourself lost the plot if you've been ingesting so much American media. Sky News in Oz has done a fabulous job of reporting on why this is all bunk. If you haven't already found out about James at CorbettReport.com, I suggest you do so, and quickly: your sanity clearly needs a refresh.
Daniel,
A beautifully written article. While Covid is an emotive subject, on which I agree with your point of view, the main point you raise is, where to from here.
You did miss the nail bars in your description of what Australia does, but other than that, perfect!
I feel multiple Australian administrations/administrators, by failing to set achievable, exciting visions for us, have failed to challenge the country's potential. In fact, Governments administrative, zero risks, status quo approach may have actively discouraged it. I was lucky, I was born in the early 60's we had extraordinary achievable visions and opportunities, plus we had extraordinary fun achieving them.
There is a line I have always attributed to Noel Pearson (though I've never been able to find it), "A Governments (sole) job is to, raise the horizon of what might be achieved, and release the potential of the nation". Imagine that, wouldn't that be fun.
Daniel, I hope you get back, and when you do, I hope you stay.
Also good for Kin Group, for allowing you the opportunity to speak.
Hey Daniel,
My expat friend sent me your article. I agree a lot with your sentiment, my husbands family is the UK and are so eager to meet our new baby.
But even when vaccinated, you can pass the virus onto others. Aus is simply not vaccinated enough currently to cope with that. We all wish we were.
To say the snap lockdown are emotionally draining etc from America, personally living through them, I much prefer them then the anxiety around my loved ones being exposed and dying of covid.
The loss of life in the states is bigger then all the world wars. I can’t get my head around that.
I hope you can get home soon, and more importantly safely for you and also for our vulnerable population.
Excellent piece that justifiably reflects so much frustration and the need for changes driven by our leaders.