Transit via Melbourne, Sydney boosts ‘COVID-safe’ travel bubble for Tasmania, SA, WA and NT

SA, WA and NT travellers heading to Tasmania for a quarantine-free getaway will be permitted to transit via Melbourne and Sydney.

Tasmania’s quarantine-free “travel bubble” with South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory has been boosted, with the island state to allow passengers to transit via Melbourne or Sydney airports.

The bubble between low or no COVID-19 jurisdictions – to begin next Friday (August 7) – had been criticised as of limited benefit due to the scarcity of direct flights to Hobart from the other capitals cities.

Last week, Tasmanian authorities were equivocal on whether or not passengers flying into Tasmania via Melbourne or Sydney would be excused the mandatory 14-day quarantine period.

However, Premier Peter Gutwein told The Australian this would be the case – if passengers remained inside those transit airports while awaiting their connecting Tasmanian flights.

“Direct flights are being secured wherever possible, however, where transiting is required, airports are operating under strict COVID safety plans,” Mr Gutwein said.

“Travellers are asked not to leave the airport when transiting through. However, if they do they will be treated as if they are an arrival from that state. 

“Further, we will be implementing from the 7th of August mandatory health checks for every passenger coming into our state. Anyone that is identified of being unwell or having symptoms will be required to take a mandatory COVID test.”

Tasmania’s business community has split on the travel bubble, with the tourism sector backing the move but some in hospitality and retail on Friday demanding borders remain closed so that social distancing restrictions could be abolished.

“The number of businesses this pandemic has claimed will only rise if we don’t lift restrictions and quickly,” said Tasmanian Hospitality Association general manager Steve Old.

“It is completely illogical, when we haven’t had a case of community infection in months, for hospitality businesses to be operating under such stringent restrictions. Keep the borders closed and get the beer taps flowing freely and kitchens firing hot again.”

Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein. Picture: Patrick Gee

However, the Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania backed the government’s “sensible reintroduction of interstate travel with COVID-safe states”.

“JobKeeper is right now masking economic Armageddon in Tasmania, and it would be naive in the extreme to think Tasmania could sustain a closed border approach indefinitely without severe social and economic consequences,” council chief executive Luke Martin told The Australian.

From Saturday, all arrivals in Tasmania required to undertake 14 days quarantine will do so at their own expense, paying $2800 per person for a fortnight confined to a hotel room.