Shut the Strait: Tassie’s borders to remain closed to mainlanders

Premier Peter Gutwein has reinstated Tasmania’s “moat”, backflipping on border measures set to come into place at the end of the week. SEE THE LATEST + REWATCH THE UPDATE >>

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TASMANIA’S borders will remain shut to mainlanders until at least the end of August.

Premier Peter Gutwein has cited the worsening state of the mainland, following in the footsteps of South Australia by tightening restrictions.

“It’s been very difficult, but it simply isn’t the time to opening our borders right now. Now’s the time to ensure we utilise our best asset, our moat, and we keep Tasmanians safe.”

The Mercury front page when strict border measures first came into place >>

Our leaders can only go so far to protect us from coronavirus. It’s now up to us to be sensible, considerate and lead...

Posted by The Mercury Newspaper on Thursday, 19 March 2020

“I just refer to South Australia in terms of increasing the restrictions there, businesses will be affected there, small business here, we made decisions that impact on peoples’ livelihoods, on their jobs, on decades of hard work ... I’m sorry we had to make these decisions.

Mr Gutwein said Tasmania will not open its borders to anyone before August 31. This will be reviewed on a week-by-week basis.

REWATCH THE DAILY UPDATE >>

The prior arrangement would see Western Australians, Northern Territorians and South Australians allowed into the state with no mandatory quarantine period from this Friday.

A review of the borders for Queenslanders and New South Welshmen was also due next week, which will no longer take place.

Mr Gutwein said the Victorian situation is “concerning and alarming”.

“Given the uncertainty in Victoria right now, and the impact it has had on other states ... we will be changing our border arrangements that were due to come into place this Friday,” he said.

“The next six weeks in Victoria will be critical for the country, today, you’d be aware that South Australia have also reintroduced stricter conditions, NSW remains on high alert.

“It’s important we remain vigilant here in Tasmania and we continue to stick to the rules to keep Tasmanians safe and secure.”

Government COVID-19 update, Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein. Picture Chris Kidd

The state remains coronavirus free, but Mr Gutwein said not becoming complacent is key.

“I think everybody is taking note of what’s occurring in other states and jurisdictions and this can get away very quickly,” he said.

“I want to assure Tasmanians we will always act on public health advice and we will remain agile and responsive to put Tasmanians health and safety first.”

Mr Gutwein responded to questions regarding Qantas limiting freight out of Melbourne airport, while saying supply lines to Tasmania would remain “strong and ongoing”.

“Our discussions to date with the Victorian government have indicated we will not see interruption to our freight supply here in Tasmania (but) ... that’s a matter that I wasn’t aware they had done that.”

The Premier also made no apologies for those who had made travel bookings past August 7, relying on previous government advice.

“In terms of the 14th, I’d indicated there would be no travel before then but no decision was made,” he said.

“In regards to the 14th that’s an open question, but in terms of the 7th, we went forward with the best of intentions but there are many people that have had their plans changed throughout this.”

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor welcomed Mr Gutwein’s announcement.

“With COVID-19 ravaging Victoria and on the march again in NSW, along with evidence of community transmission in other states, the Premier has made the right call,” she said.

“Our collective responsibility as islanders is to keep each other safe. We’ve shown we can do that since the early days of lockdown and so many people have made such huge sacrifices – from grieving families, to tireless health care workers, people who’ve lost their jobs, and businesses on the brink.

“The Premier recognises all that sacrifice would be for nought if the virus is allowed to take hold here.”

More to come...

EARLIER: PREMIER Peter Gutwein will update on Tasmania’s COVID-19 situation, as Victoria goes into a hard lockdown with curfew measures and the daily diagnosis rate in NSW increases.

On the mainland a baby in regional NSW tested positive for COVID-19 after returning from a trip to Melbourne, where 429 new cases were recorded today.

Thirteen new cases were detected in NSW in the past 24 hours, with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian urging residents to be on “extra high alert”.

One NSW infection could not be traced to existing clusters.

Last week Mr Gutwein announced further ‘hot spot bans’ were on the cards for Queensland travellers, as well as existing bans for travellers from NSW and Victoria.

Tasmania’s borders will remain open to incoming travellers from Western Australia, the Northern Territory and South Australia without quarantine.

People coming into the state from Victoria, NSW and parts of Queensland will be forced to quarantine in government accommodation at their own expense.

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