Tasmanian government stands firm on decision not to close NSW border

The Tasmanian government is standing firm on the decision not to close the New South Wales border completely.

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THE Tasmanian government is standing firm on the decision not to close the New South Wales border completely, but is warning travellers that restrictions could tighten at any time.

Health Minister Sarah Courtney declared nine sites in Victoria as high risk on Saturday, including a restaurant and yacht club at Brighton, a cinema in Glen Waverley and a golf club at Mordialloc.

Anyone in Tasmania who has been at the affected venues at specific times over the past few weeks should immediately isolate and seek public health advice, she said.

Tasmanians returning, who have been at the sites at key times, may also have to enter hotel quarantine, she said.

Health Minister Sarah Courtney giving a COVID-19 update in Launceston.

“I want to be very clear that those sites have all been declared high risk by the Tasmanian government,” Ms Courtney said.

The Greater Sydney and Wollongong areas are deemed medium risk, meaning travellers to Tasmania must quarantine at home or in a hotel for two weeks on arrival, while the Northern Beaches region remains high risk.

Ms Courtney defended the decision not to follow the lead of other states by closing the border with NSW altogether.

“We have consistently followed public health advice. Our director of Public Health Mark Veitch is highly engaged with other jurisdictions, understanding the epidemiological links and understanding what is appropriate for Tasmania,” she said.

“Northern Beaches is high risk and you cannot come here. Other areas of New South Wales, indeed around 70 per cent of the population over 30 local government areas, have significant restrictions.”

While members of the public bombarded Premier Peter Gutwein’s Facebook page with pleas to shut the NSW border, some business owners were also nervous.

Joff Jennings of Blue Eye seafood restaurant in Hobart said he would rather lose the few remaining NSW travellers still allowed in the state than risk another outbreak.

Joff Jennings at Blue Eye Restaurant. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

“We’re happy to take a small hit now, to preserve the remainder of the season,” Mr Jennings said.

Tasmania’s opposition parties also called for tougher restrictions.

“It would be a tragedy if all the hard work and sacrifices Tasmanians made to contain the virus were undone by a more lax approach,” Greens Leader Cassy O’Connor said.

“Is short term economic benefit being prioritised over community health and longer term economic health?

“Tasmanians concerned about the health of their loved ones, and the public hospital system’s capacity to cope with a local outbreak, have a right to know,” she said.

Labor leader Rebecca White said a nationally consistent approach to border restrictions was needed, but, in the absence of that, Tasmania should do all it could to protect the community.

“We have a vulnerable population, we have a health system that is already stretched to capacity, we’ve got a public health workforce who are exhausted. We can’t afford to see further outbreaks occur here in Tasmania,” Ms White said.

“While we welcome the new restrictions on Victoria, the government should have taken a stronger stance by closing the borders to NSW.”

Ms Courtney stressed to all travellers that border advice could change at any time and it was essential for anyone from NSW and Victoria to check the relevant government websites.

“Please check the website every single day, indeed twice a day would be great,” Ms Courtney said.

“It is imperative that you understand the situation is evolving.”

Updates on hot spots can be found at:

www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/case-locations-and-outbreaks

www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/case-locations-and-alerts.aspx

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The nine high risk sites in Victoria are:

•Smile Buffalo Thai restaurant, 305 Beach Road, Black Rock, between 6.30pm and 9.40pm on 21 December 2020.

•Royal Brighton Yacht Club – outdoor dining, 253 Esplanade, Brighton, between 12pm and 2pm on 29 December 2020.

•Sons of Mary Restaurant, 14 Spink St, Brighton, between 10am and 11.05am on 24 December 2020.

•Holy Family Parish Doveton Catholic, 100 Power Road, Doveton, between 4pm and 6pm on 26 December 2020.

•Village Century City, 285-287 Springvale Rd, Glen Waverly, between 2.45pm and 5.30pm on 28 December 2020.

•Albert and Co. Cafe – Bellevue Hotel, 201 Esplanade, Lakes Entrance, between 9.30am and 10.45am, on 29 December 2020.

•Esplanade Resort Lakes Entrance – pool area, 1 Esplanade, Lakes Entrance, between 3.30pm and 4.30pm, on 29 December 2020.

•Esplanade Resort Lake Entrance – Hotel bar, 1 Esplanade, Lakes Entrance, between 5.30pm and 5.50pm on 29 December 2020.

•Mordialloc Woodlands Golf Club – club bar, 109 White Street, Mordialloc, between 12.30pm and 1.30pm on 23 December 2020, and between 4.40pm and 5.15pm on 28 December 2020.

Anyone who visited these sites at the specified times must immediately isolate and contact the Tasmanian Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 for further advice.