Travel between NSW and Tasmania could restart from Friday, pending Public Health advice
Despite a strong game plan to reopen borders with New South Wales this week, the State Government is yet to confirm whether it will go ahead. WHAT WE KNOW + LATEST RESTRICTIONS >>
Tasmania
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THE state government is yet to confirm if Tasmania’s borders will open to New South Wales later this week.
It was previously announced a decision would be made to reopen Tasmania’s borders to NSW on Friday, subject to Public Health advice.
Along with Victoria, NSW is the only Australian state travellers are unable to enter Tasmania without serving a 14-day quarantine period.
Liberal MP Jane Howlett said a state government announcement on the NSW-Tasmania border opening would be made in the coming days.
“As far as borders are concerned, the Premier [Peter Gutwein] will have more to say on that this week,” she said.
Ms Howlett said Premier Gutwein would also this week be providing an update on when Tasmania’s borders with Victoria would reopen.
The state government had previously earmarked December 1 as a possible border reopening date with Tasmania’s neighbour state, subject to Public Health advice.
Greens Leader Cassy O’Connor said her party would support Public Health advice if it deemed it safe to open the borders to NSW on Friday.
“We are buoyed by the fact that Victoria, after months of lockdown, has come through and is in a good place,” she said.
“We are seeing right across Australia, the positive effects of a strong Public Health response to this pandemic.
“So I think that Tasmanians, if they can be reassured by Public Health that it’s safe to open the borders to NSW on Friday, they will understand and accept that.
“We stand with Public Health experts because ever since the start of this pandemic, the outstanding work they’ve done has kept Tasmanians safe and we all owe them an enormous debt of gratitude.”
Labor Leader Rebecca White said with borders on track to be opened to NSW, it was “beyond time” for the Government to introduce a standardised system for recording customer details.
“It doesn’t make sense for the Government to insist on maintaining restrictions on things like dancing and drinking while standing while leaving massive gaps in their ability to contact trace,” Ms White said.
“The government shouldn’t be leaving venues with the burden of making things up as they go along. Clever, technology based solutions are available – the government should roll them out immediately.”
Ms Howlett said a standardised contact tracing platform was “something Public Health will certainly have a look at”.
Originally published as Travel between NSW and Tasmania could restart from Friday, pending Public Health advice