Virgin CEO says borders need to open faster, even if ‘some people may die' Jayne Hrdlicka

30 replies

XWu

Member since 09 May 2020

Total posts 197

Title from the Fairfax broadsheet today

“ Virgin CEO says borders need to open faster, even if ‘some people may die’

Not sure why JH is getting into the border discussion unless she thinks the VA international routes to NZ and other pacific island is more profitable than current domestic traffic, or that the international tourist slump is affecting VA’s domestic market target group

Unfortunately the way she is quoted is probably not helping the advocacy for opening borders, and certainly not a great look atm

In contrast, other commentators are framing it as “influenza in 2019 kills almost much people (800) as COVID-19 in 2020 (900) but we didn’t close borders in 2019” which is not exactly guilt free but put some numbers and risks in perspectives.

1100 died from influenza in 2017.

Any idea why JH is getting into this despite VA Mark 2 not too focused on international route in its first few reboot years, and staying out of the NZ bubble traffic?

(Addit: oh, BTW where possible, please avoid commentary on vaccine rollout/hesitancy, the legality and ethics of travel bans and arrival caps unless it is directly related to why JH is getting into this issue in her CEO capacity, considering it is near impossible to separate it from personal opinion when talking to media)

notff

Member since 19 May 2012

Total posts 3

What a thing to say. If she did say that then maybe we can start with her husband and family first and see how she feels about that.

anonymous

Member since 24 Dec 2013

Total posts 159

Seems perfectly logical to me for an airline CEO to get into the border debate. VA's decision to remain a domestic airline is likely influenced by the border situation.

Dan22

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 07 Aug 2013

Total posts 167

Originally Posted by notff

What a thing to say. If she did say that then maybe we can start with her husband and family first and see how she feels about that.

Huh? No one cares when people get any other virus and we live with it. And chances are her husband and family are going be just fine...

And the media spin this in big headlines "Virgin boss says open borders even if people die" without the entire context.

This is what she said


Ms Hrdlicka argued that Australia needed to discuss opening the borders as the vaccine rollout ramped up, according to the university's media unit.


"We can't keep [COVID] out forever," she reportedly said.


"It will make us sick but won't put us into hospital. Some people may die but it will be way smaller than the flu."

What she is saying is that majority of vaccines will roll out and we will never stamp out the virus - so Australia cannot remain a hermit and need to get on with life. Good on her for not tip toeing around the issue and using her voice to raise a good point. When other countries start opening up and the typical Aussie sees they can't get to Bali wait for a majority shift in attitude. Shouldnt let the abled and young who have to work and live lives suffer for a small % of population who will need med assistance or yes, die...just like people die from the flu...and those that die from the flu are usually vulnerable if age or existing sickness.


Last editedby Dan22 at May 17, 2021, 11:31 PM.
Last editedby Dan22 at May 17, 2021, 11:34 PM.

Dan22

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 07 Aug 2013

Total posts 167

Originally Posted by tripleplatinum2

Originally Posted by Dan22

Originally Posted by notff

What a thing to say. If she did say that then maybe we can start with her husband and family first and see how she feels about that.

Huh? No one cares when people get any other virus and we live with it. And chances are her husband and family are going be just fine...

And the media spin this in big headlines "Virgin boss says open borders even if people die" without the entire context.

This is what she said


Ms Hrdlicka argued that Australia needed to discuss opening the borders as the vaccine rollout ramped up, according to the university's media unit.


"We can't keep [COVID] out forever," she reportedly said.


"It will make us sick but won't put us into hospital. Some people may die but it will be way smaller than the flu."

What she is saying is that majority of vaccines will roll out and we will never stamp out the virus - so Australia cannot remain a hermit and need to get on with life. Good on her for not tip toeing around the issue and using her voice to raise a good point. When other countries start opening up and the typical Aussie sees they can't get to Bali wait for a majority shift in attitude. Shouldnt let the abled and young who have to work and live lives suffer for a small % of population who will need med assistance or yes, die...just like people die from the flu...and those that die from the flu are usually vulnerable if age or existing sickness.


Last editedby Dan22 at May 17, 2021, 11:31 PM.
Last editedby Dan22 at May 17, 2021, 11:34 PM.
I am so thankful we have medical professionals in charge of the response and not conspiracy theorists like yourself who are only worried about their next bali bogan trip!

Oh no I think you missed the point. But you do prove one with your response and the issue that many Australians have with regarding COVID. And if you think I'm holding out for Bali based on my comment above you clearly misinterpreted.

GoRobin

Member since 07 May 2020

Total posts 113

The CEO of Virgin is absolutely correct to raise the issue about international borders. She is simply eluding to the fact that if the governments don't challenge their population, whatever level of vaccination take up there has been, then there will never be open borders. Meaning that the mandatory 14 day quarantine will remain indefinitely. This is and will continue to be enough to put off most from coming to Australia.

Ted Douglas

Member since 23 Jul 2020

Total posts 23

Disgusting comments.

Greed and profit over safety 😡😡

John Phelan

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 28 Oct 2011

Total posts 261

Originally Posted by notff

What a thing to say. If she did say that then maybe we can start with her husband and family first and see how she feels about that.

Her husband has cancer, and is undergoing chemotherapy to try to fight it. I think she understands what it's like to have a close family member fighting for their life.

Jono777

Member since 10 Jul 2020

Total posts 9

Good on her. Finally someone talking sense and looking at it from the angle that we can't stay isolated indefinitely. There will be some collateral, albeit less now with vaccines and better ways of treating the virus.

notff

Member since 19 May 2012

Total posts 3

Originally Posted by John Phelan

Originally Posted by notff

What a thing to say. If she did say that then maybe we can start with her husband and family first and see how she feels about that.

Her husband has cancer, and is undergoing chemotherapy to try to fight it. I think she understands what it's like to have a close family member fighting for their life.

Well she has a strange way of showing it then

GoRobin

Member since 07 May 2020

Total posts 113

@notff....I think she is just a normal human being trying to live a normal life. If you want to go and lock yourself in a bunker for the rest of life so as not to come into contact with any virus or bacteria, you are free to do so. Nobody is going to stop you or criticize you. But some of us don't want to do that, and won't do that.

KW72 Banned

KW72 Banned

Member since 17 Jun 2020

Total posts 66

Media taken this out of context, and the PM once again being consistent and taking the opportunity to slander a female CEO today.

abudhabi1

Thai Airways International - Royal Orchid Plus

Member since 15 Jan 2013

Total posts 105

they are right.I cannot imagine the thought of one being made to holiday in their own state and lets be honest there are even worse diseases that have come and gone around the world.did we shut off when sars and all it's variants took place during the noughties no?and i can think of many other reasons why it should be done.we need more drive in sites to do the vaccines,more gp's,more doctors and more hospitals and no more of this stupid age restrictions of phase 1/2 and 3 bullshit.

Tracie

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 30 Oct 2015

Total posts 105

We are all going to die, it's life & any of us can go at any minute, yet we accept that risk everyday we get out of bed.

Do we shut ourselves in our rooms covered on bubble wrap, no, we live.

The USA drove the vaccine program & are now looking at normality coming into their summer. Mask free, concerts, international travel....

We are still stuck with our heads in the sand, working out how to wrap ourselves in bubble wrap.

Get the jab so we can mingle with the world again.......

George Lucas

Member since 07 Apr 2021

Total posts 1

They'll study this one as 'what not to say' in PR school

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