WATCH LIVE: Premier to update on border restrictions

Premier Peter Gutwein has announced that Tasmania’s borders will not reopen on July 24, and has given an update on when that’s likely to change. WATCH THE VIDEO HERE >>

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UPDATED: TASMANIANS will have to wait at least another two weeks to find out whether our borders will reopen for interstate travel at the end of this month.

In an unexpected move following a national cabinet meeting on Friday, Premier Peter Gutwein announced he was deferring a decision on when travel might resume.

The deteriorating coronavirus situation in Victoria and the movement of large numbers of people from that state to South Australia and New South Wales were behind the decision, he said.

“We will be deferring the opening of our borders on the 24th for at least one week, if not longer.

“We will provide an update on the 24th of this month in terms of what the next steps will be.

“We are in the fortunate position in Tasmania of having one of the safest places in the country and, importantly, we need to ensure that we maintain that position.”

Mr Gutwein said that among his concerns was the large number of people who had either left Victoria in the past few weeks or who were still able to cross that state’s borders.

“There have been now more than 180,000 permits for travel across that border issued. There’s obviously major freight routes and movement across that border.

“And I think in terms of New South Wales, we will be watching in terms of the spread of the virus.

“Today Queensland have opened the borders and will be the first time that there has been mass movement of the people from around the country to one location.”

The Government this week increased border restrictions with Victoria and reimposed quarantine restrictions for Tasmanians returning from that state.

Mr Gutwein said that since then one person who had arrived on the Spirit of Tasmania ferries and one person who had arrived by air had been identified as unauthorised travellers and would be sent home.

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Premier Peter Gutwein during his update on border restrictions on Friday. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Director of Public Health Mark Veitch said the potential for the current outbreak in Melbourne to spread further afield was at the forefront of his mind.

“The appearance of cases in New South Wales and the ACT over the last couple of days has given us a concern — and there has also been several cases in regional Victoria,” he said.

“All those factors show potential for the exportation of cases outside Victoria.

“Considering that, considering the movement of people that will occur between a number of the mainland states over the next several weeks, I think those things added up to providing advice today that we should defer consideration of opening the borders.”

Director of Public Health Mark Veitch. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Labor leader Rebecca White said the Government must provide additional support for the tourism industry in the wake of the announcement.

“With 17 per cent of Tasmania’s workforce relying on the tourism sector, today’s announcement has left many wondering what this will mean for the survival of their business or their ongoing employment,” she said.

Greens health spokeswoman Rosalie Woodruff said the decision was “very reasonable” given the information health authorities had at hand.

RE-WATCH THE PREMIER’S UPDATE BELOW >>

EARLIER: Tasmania’s borders will not reopen on July 24, with the escalating crisis in Victoria contributing to the decision.

In an address to the State this afternoon, Premier Peter Gutwein said when he announced the date of July 24 as the date the borders would potentially lift, it was based on advice from the Director of Public Health.

“I indicated (at the time) we’d be considering it on a week by week basis to what is occurring and we’ve been doing this on a day-to-day basis with what’s occurring around the country and what it means for Tasmania,” Mr Gutwein said.

“It would provide us with the time and opportunity to assess the level of risk and what it would mean in the state lowering borders.

“As result of what’s happening in Victoria we will not open on the 24th and for a period of time after, we will not open to them at all.”

Mr Gutwein discussed what other states and territories were doing in terms of their borders.

“NSW have formed the view that Victoria is considered a significant risk and put in place a hard border,” he said.

“There have been 180,000 permits issued for travel across that border. Obviously there’s major freight routes across that border and I think in terms of NSW it will be watching the spread of the virus.

“Queensland has today opened their borders, with mass movements of people around the country to one location.

“ACT has already announced seeing positive cases in the Victorian outbreak and they’re working hard to get on top of the outbreak.”

Mr Gutwein said South Australia remained clear at this stage, being one of the most significant people movements into Victoria.

“Taking all those matters into account and based on public health advice, we are deferring the opening of our borders for at least a week, if not longer,” he said.

“We hope Victoria will get on top of it.

“We are in the fortunate position in Tasmania being one of the safest places in the country and we need to ensure we maintain that and only open up when we are confident the safety of Tasmanians while travelling and when they return, those families are not put at risk.

“But the borders will not open on the 24th.”

Earlier this week Mr Gutwein put into place strict rules keeping Victorians out of the state due to the current outbreak, which spiked to 288 cases today.

This comes as a tentative reopen date was set for July 24.

This comes as Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced flights returning Australian residents from overseas will be slashed in half, and passengers will have to pay to hotel quarantine under changes agreed to at National Cabinet.

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