Weekend Wrap 23 January 2022: Morrison wants kids driving forklifts, The Wiggles win the Hottest 100, WA keeps borders closed, Vic and NSW announce school restart plan

Ben Davison dives into Morrison's botched attempt to get children
driving forklifts by National Cabinet decree and urges people to
check out their health and safety rights at the Australian Unions
free webinar this week with ACTU Leader Sally McManus,
australianunions.org.au has the details.


Triple J's Hottest 100 has been announced with The Wiggles
winning the annual song poll with their Like A Version cover of
Tame Impala's track, Elephant.  


WA announced it will be keeping border protections in place
beyond the initial February 5 date originally floated for
reopening.  Premier McGowan has said that concerns about the
efficacy of double vaccination against Omicron and the "shadow
lockdowns" that Omicron outbreaks have caused in the rest of
Australia are behind the move.


While NSW and Victoria suffer from shadow lockdown, staff
shortages, supply chain constraints and collapsing consumer
demand, both state governments have announced plans to get kids
back to school.  Regular testing, combined classes, vaccine
mandates for staff and mask mandates for grade 3 and up are all
part of the approach designed to keep schools open. 
Queensland has already delayed the restart of school to February
7th to have its plans in place.


While the states are rolling out RATs to schools the he said, he
said of Commonwealth RAT procurement and supply continues. 
Many organisations have claimed their RAT supplies have been
diverted to meet Commonwealth procurement contracts while the
Morrison government claims it hasn't "seized" any RATs from the
private market.  While this is going on people are paying
hundreds of dollars to regularly test disability support workers
and pharmacies cannot get RATs to give out to those who would
qualify for the Morrison concessional RATs program.


In New Zealand new gathering limits and mask rules have been
announced as Omicron threatens to breakout.  New Zealand
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has canceled her wedding in order
to comply with the new protective measures.


And Ben thanks all of the Week on Wednesday listeners who have
checked out the support page at
buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday