Is Australia's distance and isolation shaping up to be a good thing? A blessing?
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For me the geographic isolation has long been a blessing which together with some other factors has helped to ensure low population density. That is my preference for a permanent home. But fortunately with a strong and advanced economy, a high proportion have the means to travel. I average 2 - 3 months out of the country annually (not this year of course). Air travel has been very inexpensive, and after a few movies, a sleep and a couple of meals I can be anywhere that interests me. This is the norm for my family, circle of friends and business acquaintances (the regular international travel, not necessarily 2-3months per year).
The rest of the time I can live in a great modern city or very nearby countryside in an almost perfect climate.
So yes, I think the isolation has been an element in the success of managing Covid 19, but I agree with Wiki's assessment of the other factors.
I just saw a list of the lowest "death rate" states - and it practically mirrored the lowest population density USA states. I don't think that's a coincidence. Australia's population density is lower than all but three states - Montana, Wyoming, Alaska - and they have 33 deaths combined. Obviously more people in Australia, total, but it seems like another additive factor to all the rest.
I don't think Australia is all that isolated - NZ and Indonesia aren't far, and it's supposed to be a "gateway to Asia". It's probably more about the fact that it shares no borders and is surrounded completely by water, naturally, as it's an island continent.
I just saw a list of the lowest "death rate" states - and it practically mirrored the lowest population density USA states. I don't think that's a coincidence. Australia's population density is lower than all but three states - Montana, Wyoming, Alaska - and they have 33 deaths combined. Obviously more people in Australia, total, but it seems like another additive factor to all the rest.
The overall density is very low but most people live in one of the large cities. Although they are not as built up as some world cities they are completely unlike the outback, or for that matter, places like Alaska and Wyoming. Sydney, for example, is a city of five million people, with perhaps a third living in medium and high density accommodation.
I don't think Australia is all that isolated - NZ and Indonesia aren't far, and it's supposed to be a "gateway to Asia". It's probably more about the fact that it shares no borders and is surrounded completely by water, naturally, as it's an island continent.
With Indonesia, Australia could be a million miles away from. Take away Bali and more newly emerged Lombok, and there is little in the way of contact between the two.
The Gateway to Asia is a slow burn ongoing process. Still rather in its infancy but definitely on the boil.
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