Editorial: A call that’s taken Guts

The decision to impose the country’s strictest border controls in Tasmania may well define the career of our 46th Premier Peter Gutwein.

THE decision to impose the country’s strictest border controls in Tasmania may well define the career of our 46th Premier Peter Gutwein.

While there will undeniably be economic consequences that flow from this policy, it will also undoubtedly save lives.

It is with this fact in mind that we commend Mr Gutwein’s bravery — this moment in time has brought its man and this was a call that took Guts.

Mr Gutwein announced yesterday that anyone arriving in the state would have to accept 14 days of self-isolation.

‘HISTORY REPEATS’: HOW TASMANIA CLOSED ITS BORDERS IN 1919

The extreme move was made to protect the spread of coronavirus in our community as the number of cases starts to surge interstate. With just 10 known cases in Tasmania so far, the decision was a pre-emptive strike on COVID-19.

We can’t overestimate the magnitude of these new measures. Ultimately, this will sound the death knell for domestic tourism for now, which on top of the already collapsed international market will deliver fatal blows to many businesses.

Economically in the short and medium term there will be pain. However, Mr Gutwein has ultimately made the decision to protect Tasmanian lives, and for that he has shown courage.

The strength of his leadership reverberated around Parliament House yesterday when a normally boisterous Question Time was replaced by a sense of camaraderie. Labor leader Rebecca White said, “All Tasmanian parliamentarians stand together in this decision. Well done, Premier.”

QANTAS OVERHAULS TASMANIAN FLIGHTS

The sentiment is to be applauded because it reassures Tasmanians. It shows them that politicians can put aside their politics and come together in the best interests of our state.

Today Tasmania leads the country in the proactive way in which we are fighting this killer virus and we know by watching what’s happening across the world that what seems like an over-reaction is the best possible reaction.

For all the parochialism and argy-bargy that exists sometimes in Tasmania, when the chips are down we know how to band together and the Premier should know — as we said just two days ago — that he has our support when making the tough calls to protect our people.

Now, it’s back on us.

We know the advice. We know to self-distance, to wash our hands and, if we’ve been travelling, we know to self-isolate. Anyone flouting the self-isolation rules should be in no doubt that if the new measures are ignored they could be fined or jailed.

SUPERMARKET ATTACK ‘EQUIVALENT TO COMMON ASSAULT’

We’ve watched as other cities around the world have imposed strict lockdown measures only for residents to flout them with reckless abandon.

So, we also need to demonstrate to people that Tasmania will look after them.

If they need shelter or food or medicine or toilet paper, we need to — as a community — provide.

Our leaders can only go so far to protect us from coronavirus. It’s now up to us to be sensible, considerate and lead the country in being the best Australians we can be and we can do that just by being Tasmanians.