COVID-era welcome: social distance and a mask for nanna

It was a touching airport reunion with a COVID-era twist for a Hobart grandmother who arrived on the first Tasmanian flight under tough new quarantine rules, as Hobart Airport vies for international flights.

Sophie Mahoney 4 welcomes her nanna Christine Walker to Hobart who arrived from Melbourne. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

• Fresh concerns over mainland workers granted travel exemptions
• Tasmanian woman’s close call with London crane crush

HOBART grandmother Christine Walker was aboard the first Jetstar flight to arrive into Hobart under new toughened quarantine rules.

As she emerged from the airport wearing a mask, Mrs Walker enjoyed a brief and socially-distanced greeting from stepdaughter Allison Mahoney and granddaughter Sophie.

“It was so nice of them to come out and welcome me back,” she said.

“I was in the line to collect my luggage and I looked out and there was Sophie. It was lovely to see them.”

The family has been apart for three-and-a-half months while Mrs Walker visited her mother in Auckland. She has two more weeks of quarantine before they will be together again.

New rules for arrivals came into effect yesterday.

Jetstar flight JQ 705 arrives at Hobart from Melbourne. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

Police Commissioner Darren Hine, who is responsible for the state’s border security, said despite new rules, he wanted to make sure people had a “humanitarian and friendly” welcome.

“Even before they leave Tullamarine they’ll be interacting with the biosecurity people to make sure they’ve got the right paper work filled out and they’re not banned from coming to Tasmania,” he said.

“We don’t want to embarrass anyone, we want to make sure we provide them with the right advice before they make that decision to get on the plane.

“Once they get on the plane and come to Tasmania and arrive in Hobart they’ll have the same experience they would normally do, they are met by a biosecurity officer, they go through their travel arrival form to will make sure they have the right information and then the decision is where they will quarantine.”

As the new rules took effect, the Acting CEO of Hobart Airport said the state should

go it alone with direct flights to New Zealand.

Jetstar flight JQ 705 arrives at Hobart from Melbourne. Picture Chris Kidd

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern this week hinted that she would be willing.

Hobart Airport’s Matt Cocker said a New Zealand ‘travel bubble’ made sense.

“Tasmania is leading the nation in its response to COVID-19. This is a fantastic opportunity for Tasmania to get a clear advantage on other states and it’s clear that direct flights with New Zealand would help with the huge task of rebuilding our economy.

“An economic study completed prior to the impact of COVID-19 found that international flights into Hobart, including New Zealand, could increase tourism spending by up to $120 million per annum, creating an additional 600 direct jobs.”

Follow @DavidJKillick