Recently, I couldn’t miss the media reporting about Lisa Wilkinson and her salary negotiations with the Nine Network. Who? Many of us would not know that Ms. Wilkinson was a co-host of one of those dreary television morning shows that is no more than an orgy of self-congratulation and mutual appeasement on all things ‘social’ punctuated by frequent advertisements for haemorrhoid cream, retirement villages or life insurance.
Apparently, Wilkinson was co-hosting the Today show with Karl Stefanovic (another dreary forgettable individual) and Stefanovic was receiving $2 million PER YEAR for his television appearance. During contract renewal negotiations, Wilkinson was offered only $1.8m. Wilkinson was outraged and demanded $2.3 million. The network declined and told her that her services were no longer required. So, she has now written a book detailing her trials and tribulations and this book is the subject of multiple news reports.
It is difficult to imagine the thought processes of somebody that might say: ‘No, I won’t accept $35,000 per week, I want $44,000 PER WEEK and if I don’t get it, I will write a book setting out my difficulties in life’. Meanwhile, sympathy or acknowledgement for the economic devastation to business and many tens of thousands unemployed due to Covid does not get a jersey. That these issues should be raised in public is bad enough and demonstrates an appalling lack of commercial-in-confidence awareness, but even more so when coupled to a self-entitled tone deaf narcissistic ‘I am a star’ attitude. What a bitter and twisted place morning television must be – and again, Lisa who?
Speaking of things bitter and twisted…..the Queensland Premier Anastasia Palaszczuk (pronounced Pal-as-szhuk, not Pallashay) has revealed her plans to allow visitors into Queensland. In short, you can come in but only if you’re double vaccinated and even then, don’t bother trying before December 17th.
After that date, you will still need to have the results of a rapid PCR test to make sure you don’t have Covid but she will graciously allow you to roam relatively freely once inside the border. Be aware however, that the vaccination rate in most of Queensland outside the SE corner of the State is woefully low (~30%). Therefore, flash lockdowns are possible (and, highly likely) after the filthy hordes from the south infect the unsuspecting rural folk. If you are in the area at the time, you will also be quarantined (you disease ridden swine).
All is not lost however. Anastasia wants to see Queenslanders achieve a 90% double vaccination rate at which time all restrictions would be eliminated. When achieved, you could drive, fly, scooter or walk into Queensland and go about your activities without a care. That the rate of daily vaccinations dispensed in Queensland is one of the lowest in Australia for both 1st or 2nd shots has been glossed over. Or, that a 90% vaccination rate would probably see Queensland achieve the highest double vaccination rate in the world is also lost in translation. But sure, why not, seems feasible to me (sarc).
The one highlight is that we will soon be rid of that dreadful ‘chicken little’ CHO, Jeanette Young. From November 1st she will step aside for her new role as State Governor. Of course, this means that she cannot be called to give evidence in any subsequent enquiry into her ‘medical’ advice or the restrictions enforced in her name, but perhaps that is a small price to pay.
To sum up – unless essential, stay out of Queensland for the next six months. Don’t let the euphoria of NSW and Victoria fool you into thinking Qld is on the same path. CHO Young is gone but we still have Palaszczuk (pronounced Pal-as-szhuk, not Pallashay) and she remains unpredictable and near obsessive in her desire to exercise control over the masses whilst on her crusade to “keep Queenslanders safe”. (God help you if you need to use one of our hospitals). Snap lockdowns and border closures in addition to other restrictions are still viewed as viable solutions. Queensland will still be here next year and the chances of being caught up in one of the Premier’s manic control episodes will, probably, be reduced.
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