Tough new rules lock Victorians out

Harsh new rules kicked in at midnight, which will stop Victorians entering Tasmania for at least six weeks. But there is hope travellers may be able to transit through Melbourne later this month. See the latest + what this means for holiday-makers >>

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PREMIER Peter Gutwein has locked down the border with Victoria as that state grapples with a second wave of coronavirus infections.

Ahead of an announcement about easing travel restrictions for Tasmanians on Friday, Mr Gutwein made it clear visits to and from Victoria were off the agenda for at least six weeks.

“We will not be removing the border restrictions for Victoria on the 24th of this month,” he said.

“If you are from Victoria, please don’t come to Tasmania. If you come to Tasmania, we will send you home.”

But the restrictions in place from midnight Wednesday have left open the possibility Tasmanians will be able to transit through Melbourne Airport on their way to other destinations.

Premier Peter Gutwein updates new border measures with Victoria due to their COVID-19 outbreak on Wednesday, 8 July 2020. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

The new rules mean:

• Victorians, or interstate residents who have spent time in the state in the previous 14 days, who attempt to visit Tasmania will be sent home at their own expense;
• Tasmanians returning from Victoria will be required to quarantine in government facilities for 14 days;
• Non-Victorian interstate visitors who arrive before July 24 will be allowed to transit directly through Tullamarine Airport but will be required to quarantine in government-provided hotels;
• Employers seeking exemptions for essential workers from Victoria will be required to demonstrate their skills can’t be found in other states;
• Additional restrictions have already been placed on essential workers who hold exemptions from quarantine restrictions;
• and compassionate exemptions for Victorian residents were “unlikely in the short term”.

Mr Gutwein said there would be no changes to the Spirit of Tasmania ferries, which carry much of the state’s produce imports and exports — and are only accepting Tasmanian passengers.

“This is a difficult time, it’s a challenging time,” he said, “We have been through worse times.”

“We’re not closing down businesses, we’re not asking people to lock themselves into their homes, we’re not restricting them going to shacks.

“What we need to do is to take this sensibly and responsibly as I know Tasmanians will. “Continue to do the right thing, understand that we will do everything we can to ensure there are protections in place at our borders that ensure that we will keep Tasmanians safe.”

Tasmania has been free of active COVID-19 cases for more than 50 days. More than 3800 people have been tested over the last month, among 55,000 tests since the pandemic began.

One thousand people remain in quarantine in their homes and 400 in government-provided hotel accommodation.

The state has experienced 226 cases and 13 deaths.

Director of Public Health Dr Mark Veitch has asked Tasmanians not to be fearful of inter-state travellers. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Director of Public Health Mark Veitch said events in Victoria had been concerning but Tasmania was in a “fortunate” situation — although new cases were possible.

He said the risk of travel to and from most other Australian states was low.

“I do want to remind Tasmanians that when you look at Australia beyond Victoria you see a country which has one of the lowest rates of coronavirus infection in the world and good measures to diagnose coronavirus cases all around Australia.

“The Tasmanian public should be reassured that the risk of people from outside of Melbourne is very low, and the risk of people from Melbourne and Victoria is something that we’re managing … with border restrictions.”

Police Commissioner Darren Hine, who is acting as State Controller during the state of emergency, said requests for exemptions from border rules were being rigorously scrutinised.

And he said border checked were being stepped up, with an app being used to register and record information about arrivals into the state.

State Controller, Police Commissioner Darren Hine said technology and greater presence at borders will help keep Tasmanians safe. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Biosecurity officers will be placed at Tullamarine Airport and will continue to be backed by police at local entry points, he said.

Premier Gutwein said only ten people deemed “essential workers” had entered the state in the last five days.

Labor Leader Rebecca White welcomed the new rules.

“Tasmanians have anxiously watched the situation unfolding in Victoria,” she said.

“With our own outbreak in the North West still fresh in people’s minds, we know we can’t afford to import COVID when we have been free of the disease for nearly two months.

Ms White called for the mandatory testing of those arriving under essential worker exemptions.

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