WATCH NOW: Peter Gutwein gives National Cabinet update
Tasmanians may be able to travel interstate as soon as the end of October according to the Premier, who announced a raft of border restriction easements this afternoon. WATCH HERE >>
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UPDATE: Tasmanians may be able to travel interstate as soon as the end of October according to the Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein, who announced a raft of border restriction easements this afternoon.
Tasmanian FIFO workers coming from non-hot spots will be allowed to return home during their off-swings as of midnight, Sunday.
Interstate seasonal workers with work secured on a Tasmanian farm will also be able to enter the state but will be required to stay at their farm or accommodation for 14 days.
The easements come as part of a three stage plan to have the state opened by the December 1 opening date previously set by the Tasmanian Government.
Premier Gutwein said the improved pandemic management in other states around the country inspired confidence to potentially push the opening date forward.
The potential early border openings will be restricted to South Australia, ACT, The Northern Territory, Western Australia, and possibly Queensland and New South Wales.
An early opening to Victoria will not happen.
“Victoria’s out,” he said.
Mr Gutwein said the borders would be subject to health advice but hinted “there is a good chance” of the late-October opening coming to fruition.
“We’re not declaring that we will open early,” he said.
Tasmania will not be assisting the rest of the nation with accommodating Australians returning home from overseas but has committed to an unknown amount of financial compensation for its share of returning travellers.
“I support the Prime Minister full on (bringing Australians home),” Mr Gutwein said.
“We have done all that we can.”
He said Tasmania’s land and sea ports would not be able to facilitate the travellers.
“We’re not in a position where we will receive flight in to Tasmania,” he confirmed
“We will make a financial contribution.”
According to the government, two per cent of returning Australians are Tasmanian.
INITIAL: TASMANIAN Premier Peter Gutwein will shortly update the public on the latest developments from the fortnightly National Cabinet meeting.
Items expected to be discussed include the latest state of our borders, international arrivals and intrastate restrictions.
WATCH HERE LIVE AT 2.30PM >>
This follows recent easements of border restrictions in other states including a new opening between Queensland and the ACT in the wake of this morning’s National Cabinet meeting.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has just announced international travel caps will be lifted in “staged way” with New South Wales taking an additional 500 arrivals by September 27.
Queensland and Western Australia will start taking an extra 200 a week before increasing to 300 by October 4.
Tasmania has not yet committed to taking Australians stranded overseas citing insufficient facilities at its airports without federal support.
Originally published as WATCH NOW: Peter Gutwein gives National Cabinet update