What are the reasons you travel to and from Melbourne

Despite a blanket rule locking Victorians out of the state, there are still several scenarios where Tasmanians can travel to and from the outbreak epicentre. WHAT YOU’RE ALLOWED TO DO >>

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DESPITE a blanket rule locking Victorians out of the state, there are still several scenarios where Tasmanians can travel to and from Melbourne.

New border restrictions came into place on midnight on July 9 (today), to keep Tasmanians safe from the mainland outbreak which has now spiked to around 3000 cases, forcing the entire state into lockdown.

SEE THE FULL LIST OF RULES AND EXEMPTIONS BELOW >>

State Controller Darren Hine said there were exemptions for Tasmanians heading to and returning from Melbourne, including essential workers and on medical and compassionate grounds, but that they will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

“We know several people that have to go on a daily basis that are travelling to Melbourne of Victoria for treatment and coming back to Tasmania,” he said.

“Obviously now they have to make an application for an exemption and we look at it on a case-by-case basis.

State Controller Darren Hine said there are several exemptions for Tasmanians heading to and from the mainland. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

“Their health is extremely important and we want to make sure we don’t jeopardise their health by either hotel quarantining or quarantining at home.”

Biosecurity officers will be checking paperwork for travellers coming into the state on the Melbourne side, and again in Tasmania.

“For example, even before they leave Tullamarine they will be faced with interacting with a biosecurity person … to make sure they have the right paperwork filled out and to make sure they aren’t banned from coming to Tasmania – as in if they’ve lived or worked or spent time in Victoria in the past 14 days,” Mr Hine said.

“Once they get on the plane and come to Tasmania and arrive in Hobart they’ll have the same experience they normally do, they are met with a biosecurity officer and go through their travel arrival forms and the decision is where they will quarantine.”

These restrictions will occur at Tasmanian borders and apply to people travelling from Victoria:

• Any visitors who have spent time in Victoria in the 14 days prior to travel are not permitted to travel to Tasmania.
• If visitors come from Victoria to Tasmania, they will be turned back.

• This does not apply to essential travellers from Victoria, who will still be able to apply to travel to Tasmania for a specified purpose.
• Any person granted Essential Traveller status who has spent time in Victoria in the 14 days prior to travel will be required to wear a face mask and limit their movement when not in the workplace.
• Essential travellers from Victoria under the ‘specialist skills critical to maintaining key industries and businesses’ category of specified person, will now need prior approval to travel from the State Controller.
• While Victorians can apply for a compassionate exemption to travel to Tasmania, these exemptions are unlikely to be granted in the short term due to rapidly changing circumstances in Victoria.
• Tasmanian residents who have spent time in Victoria in the 14 days prior to travel will be required to quarantine in government-provided accommodation. This includes families with children and FIFO workers.
• People coming to Tasmania from other states will be allowed to transit through a Victorian airport or port, provided they do so directly. All other current quarantine requirements remain in place.

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