WATCH: Premier Peter Gutwein delivers update after National Cabinet
PREMIER Peter Gutwein has confirmed without federal support for an international airport, the state will not be able to accommodate international mercy flights. RE-WATCH HERE >>
Coronavirus
Don't miss out on the headlines from Coronavirus. Followed categories will be added to My News.
UPDATE: PREMIER Peter Gutwein has said that Tasmania needs an international airport if it is to allow Australians returning from overseas to quarantine in the state.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison earlier said the Federal Government was working with other states to take the load off New South Wales – currently the only state accepting mercy flights from overseas.
“Transport Minister will be working with others to see if we can get flight that is currently all seek to come to Sydney, to see if we’re in a position to try and get them to go into other ports, whether that be in Perth, in Adelaide, in Darwin, the ACT, or elsewhere, even Tasmania,” he said.
“Premier Gutwein was keen to be part of this, if that’s possible. We want to get more Australians home.”
In an attempt to leverage the situation, Premier Gutwein has requested Border Force assistance and infrastructure upgrades to get an international airport off the ground.
“We are not in a position where we can support the rest of the county,” he said.
“We’re not part of that mix at the moment.”
Premier Gutwein also confirmed the international capabilities would also facilitate talks that entertain the idea of Tasmanian-New Zealand travel.
Director of Public Health Dr Mark Veitch – after announcing Tasmania has recorded one retrospective COVID case which has since been cleared – said Tasmania’s hotel quarantine system was the best way to screen international arrivals.
“Quarantine is the very best way of managing any risk,” he said.
As for domestic borders, no more certainty was provided on the December 1 open date with Mr Gutwein stating the date is an ”aspiration”.
A raft of tenant and landlord relief initiatives were also extended.
Attorney-General Elise Archer confirmed Residential Tenancy Act extended to would be extended to September 30.
Premier Gutwein also reaffirmed the calls for out-of-work Tasmanians to put their hands up for seasonal fruit picking jobs come harvest.
“There is an opportunity for Tasmanians and I’m calling on Tasmanians today,” he said.
He urged students other jobseekers in particular to get on board stating employers would preference Tasmanians for the jobs.
“Make yourself at home” site goes live this Monday and the premier expects the site to be slammed with traffic.
“This site is going to get hit very hard at 9am on Monday morning,” he said
INITIAL: TASMANIAN premier Peter Gutwein has expressed interest in accommodating and quarantining international arrivals, according to Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
“Premier Gutwein was keen to be part of this, if that’s possible. We want to get more Australians home,”
Currently, New South Wales is the only state taking international arrivals for hotel quarantine.
Prime Minister Morrison said following National Cabinet earlier today.
“Tasmania, I note, in particular already has a goal of having its border down in December as well,” he said.
“I welcome their commitment to that, as I do all the states and territories who have committed to this today.”
Prime Minister Morrison also announced that all states – excluding Western Australia – have agreed to reopen borders by Christmas.
“Tasmania, I note, in particular already has a goal of having its border down in December as well,” he said.
“I welcome their commitment to that, as I do all the states and territories who have committed to this today.”
Premier Gutwein is about to address the public on the latest from National Cabinet.
Celebration dinners and formals to go ahead, with dancing allowed. In welcome news for Tasmanian school students, Public Health has advised that formals and celebration dinners will be able to go ahead, with dancing allowed on school sites. #politas
— GutweinTeamMedia (@GutweinTeam) September 4, 2020
WATCH THE PREMIER’S ADDRESS HERE >>
More to come …
Experts push for double shot as new Covid wave looms
As deaths from Covid continue, Tasmanians are being urged to get boosters and flu shots with doctors saying infection rates are “taking off and complacency is setting in”. LATEST FIGURES >>
Covid-safety urged as daily case numbers decline
The pace of Tasmania’s winter Covid wave is slowing but the public is urged to remain vigilant. LATEST FIGURES >>