Woman fined after providing false Covid info upon return to Tassie

A Launceston woman has copped a mega fine for “knowingly providing false information” to an emergency management worker. LATEST DETAILS >>

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Launceston woman fined for providing false information upon arrival

A 39 year old Launceston woman has been fined $1557 for “knowingly providing false information” to an emergency management worker.

Police say the woman flew in to Launceston on Wednesday, declaring on her Tas E Travel Application that she had only spent time in Queensland, which is currently low risk.

But authorities say enquiries revealed the woman had spent time in Victoria, which is currently high risk, before she arrived.

Police said there is no risk to the public.

Jetstar plane at Launceston airport. Picture: BEN LYALL

“As part of the normal arrivals process, verification of information provided by the woman was undertaken, and it was determined the woman had provided false information,” a Tasmania Police spokesperson said.

“The woman was ordered straight into quarantine on the same day and was fined on the spot, and there was no risk to the public.

“While cases like this are understandably extremely disappointing, the vast majority of people are continuing to do the right thing by everyone to help Tasmania safe.”

The woman was directed to quarantine at home and to undergo Covid testing.

Spirit of Tasmania crew tested for Covid

TASMANIA’S latest Covid-19 scare involving an infected Spirit of Tasmania contractor has not resulted in any positive cases being recorded here.

All 11 Tasmanian primary close contacts of the contractor have returned negative test results since being taken off the ships and put into isolation.

The crew who were exposed to the Covid-19 positive contractor all work below deck and have had no contact with Spirit of Tasmania passengers.

The infected crew member worked on the Spirit of Tasmania II on Monday and Spirit of Tasmania I on Tuesday.

In total, 17 other workers came into contact with that person – 11 Tasmanians and six based on the mainland. Two of those six have already returned negative tests and TT-Line is waiting for the last four results before it resumes sailing.

Premier Peter Gutwein said the state’s Covid-response systems had coped well with the situation. Picture: Richard Jupe

Premier Peter Gutwein said the Tasmanians were placed in quarantine except one who had already gone home and was rapid tested there.

Mr Gutwein said the systems on board the vessels and a rapid testing response from Tasmanian authorities had stood up well to the challenging situation.

“We will continue to protect our borders but Delta will be here one day,” he said.

The state government is also testing another 67 TT-line crew members who work above deck.

The quarantining of the crew resulted in Friday night’s sailings from both Tasmania and Victoria being postponed.

There were 150 passengers on the vessel stuck in Melbourne and about 50 onboard the ship in Devonport. Freight was unloaded and loaded onto SeaRoad and Toll vessels.

The passengers were told of the decision to postpone the sailing and given the option to stay on board in their rooms overnight or to disembark the vessel.

Only one passenger elected to leave the ship.

TT-Line CEO Bernard Dwyer. Picture: Richard Jupe

TT-Line CEO Bernard Dwyer apologised to passengers for the delay but praised the robust safety measures on board the ships

Tasmania is not expected to open its border until 90 per cent of the population is vaccinated against the virus.

Spirit of Tasmania sailings cancelled over close Covid contact

The Spirit of Tasmania’s night sailing on Friday was postponed after crew members were identified to be close contacts of a positive Covid-19 case detected in Melbourne.

The department of health said the 10 crew were exposed to an infectious case, a T-T line contractor, and were subsequently removed from the ship and sent to hotel quarantine, where they will undergo Covid testing.

The rest of the crew are secondary contacts and have been assessed as low risk.

They’ll remain on board and will be tested on Saturday morning “out of an abundance of caution.”

Spirit of Tasmania. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Sarah Matray

Deputy director of public health Dr Julie Graham said no positive case had been identified in Tasmania and there was no risk to passengers.

“Because of on-board Covid safety measures put in place by TT-Line, Public Health in Tasmania believes there is no risk to the 60 passengers booked on tonight’s Devonport sailing,” Dr Julie Graham said.

“The passengers were informed of the decision to postpone the sailing and given the option to stay on board in their rooms overnight or to safely disembark the vessel this evening. “However, for safety reasons no freight or private vehicles will be able to leave the ferry until the morning.”

Public health said an update will be provided once test results are received.

Man fined for trying to enter Tassie illegally for the fourth time

A 61 year old man has been slapped with a $1557 fine after he arrived in Hobart from Melbourne on Thursday, with police finding he’d had previously been rejected from entering the state four separate times.

The Tasmanian man arrived in Hobart just after midday and was processed by Biosecurity Tasmania.

Police say the man had spent time in regional Victoria.

The G2G system revealed he’d tried to get into Tasmania four other times in the last month.

The man was fined for failing to comply with the lawful direction of an emergency worker and was sent to government quarantine at his own expense.

Police said 10 people had unlawfully tried to enter Tasmania in the last three months.

Originally published as Woman fined after providing false Covid info upon return to Tassie