Premier announces changes to essential worker scheme

Premier Peter Gutwein has promised greater scrutiny of applications to enter the state and greater transparency about who is let in. See the changes to the process >>

• Essential worker was hotel executive of major Liberal donor
• Tasmanian borders locked down until December

THE state government has announced changes the controversial permit system that allows essential travellers into the state without quarantining.

In parliament on Tuesday, Labor leader Rebecca White savaged the scheme, saying it was failing both local job seekers and not adequately protecting the wider community.

“Fitting out pizza shops or a supermarket or fixing holes in a roof does not sound like jobs a Tasmanian can’t do,” she said.

“It’s not the state controller’s administration that’s the problem, it’s the design of the scheme itself.

Parliament, Tasmanian Labor Leader Rebecca White. Picture Chris Kidd

“Tasmanians need to have confidence that anyone coming into this state isn’t taking the job of a Tasmanian but more importantly if they’re granted an exemption from quarantine, they should be tested for COVID-19 and they should be quarantine until they get a result.”

Concerns were raised last week over reports a Sydney hotel consultant was given a permit to travel ahead of a Hobart hotel grand opening.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said it was hard to understand how that exemption was granted when people were being knocked back for travel to family funerals.

Mr Gutwein said the rules had been put in place on public health advice and that weddings and funerals were particularly conducive to transmission of the virus.

“Unlike the Crowne Plaza launch?” Ms O’Connor retorted.

Parliament, Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein. Picture Chris Kidd

Mr Gutwein later announced the government would “further strengthen the stringent criteria already in place”.

“Currently, each application is assessed individually, based on the information provided, firstly, by the Biosecurity Tasmania team and then by the State Control team, with the final decision made by the State Controller,” he said.

“The Department of State Growth will now also be involved in the assessment process, along with DPIPWE and the State Control team to provide another layer of review in the assessment process before the State Controller makes the final decision.

Mr Gutwein said the scheme would also be made more transparent, with regular updates given to the public on who is being let in.

“To ensure that the public is kept informed we will also make publicly available statistical and regional information regarding essential traveller exemptions granted to enter Tasmania, on a weekly basis, taking into account people’s individual privacy.”

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