White says the government needs to give public direction on virus control

Labor says Tasmanians need direction as coronavirus cases climb.

LABOR says the State Government needs to launch a mass-marketed public awareness campaign to give event organisers direction and stem panic.

Leader Rebecca White said a lack of clear direction was causing confusion and panic among organisers of big public events.

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Already Dark Mofo has been cancelled. Other events, like Agfest, are, for now, set to go ahead.

“Where are the media adverts we saw with the takeover of TasWater,” Ms White said as news came in that Tasmania had recorded its fourth coronavirus case.

“People are looking for answers. Organisers of events should not be making their decision in isolation. We need a co-ordinated approach across the State with the government leading the way.

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“The government also needs to reassure the Tasmanian public that our health system has the capacity to cope with an outbreak.”

Several hours after Ms White made the call, AMA President, Dr Tony Bartone, urged the Federal Government to ban all mass gatherings of 500 people or more.

Health Minister Sarah Courtney said she wanted Tasmanians to feel that they are at low risk.

“I encourage people to keep up to date and if they have questions go to the Department of Health website,” she said.

She said the Federal government had committed $30 million to communications during the crisis to ensure Australians were getting the information they needed.

Ms White also called on the government to ensure coronavirus economic stimulus measures are rolled out right across the state – including the northwest where numerous businesses are export orientated and exposed.

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“If the Federal Government does not allocate adequate funding to the northwest, Premier Peter Gutwein must prioritise it in the stimulus package he will announce next week,” she said.

“Businesses across the northwest are particularly export orientated and exposed and already we’re hearing of how access to markets has been restricted for businesses that are trading internationally and that supply chain impacts are starting to be felt.

“A drop in trade for the northwest will have a far reaching knock-on effect across Tasmania.”