Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein rejects Scott Morrison’s push to reopen borders

Tasmania’s Premier and public health chief have both flatly rejected calls by the PM to immediately reopen state borders.

Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein. Picture: Luke Bowden

Tasmania’s Premier and public health chief have both flatly rejected calls by the Prime Minister to immediately reopen state borders.

Liberal Premier Peter Gutwein said while the PM had done an “outstanding job” managing the coronavirus crisis, border reopening was not Scott Morrison’s call.

“The last time I looked, the Prime Minister wasn’t the director of public health in Tasmania, nor was he the Premier of Tasmania,” Mr Gutwein said.

“We will make decisions that are in the best interests of Tasmanians. I thank him for his input but at the end of the day we’ll make the call on this one when it’s right for the state.”

He was backed by state Director of Public Health Mark Veitch, who said he and other state chief health officers had considered advice provided to national cabinet.

“But it is very much the case that each state, when it comes to borders, should and does make its own decision,” Dr Veitch said.

“They have to consider the circumstances of the state, the amount of disease that’s in that state, the amount of disease that’s in other states, and the measures that are available to control infections should they occur in our state.

“So the advice that I would provide to the Tasmanian government would take all of those factors into account. It will always be a decision that’s made with some mutual considerations by all of the states of Australia.”

Mr Gutwein stepped away from an earlier suggestion to The Australian that he would want to see at least 28 days of zero cases before reopening borders with any jurisdiction.

“A rough rule of thumb is terms of eradication is two full cycles (of the 14-day virus life cycle),” he said. “In terms of lifting or borders, we will obviously make decisions based on what is occurring in other states, but I doubt very much whether the rest of the country will get to eradication.

“So we will have to make decisions based on our capacity within the state to track and trace, respond and importantly where our health system is at.”

He expected to make a decision in early July on when the borders would reopen.