Editorial: Many ways we can help our local businesses

EDITORIAL: If we want our tourism and hospitality industries to exist when this coronavirus nightmare is finally over, operators will need further support.

WHAT a difference a few days can make when it comes to the ever-changing coronavirus crisis.

Yesterday, Premier Peter Gutwein announced Tasmania would not reopen its borders to other Australian states on July 24.

PREMIER EXTENDS TASMANIA’S BORDER CLOSURES

Commentary seems to suggest the Premier has broad support for keeping the borders closed to all other states — even those that have no community spread and no active cases.

And it is understandable many people are anxious about interstate travellers leading to another outbreak in Tasmania.

We have a moat and, in theory, it makes it much easier to control the movement of people.

Mr Gutwein has enjoyed a surge of popularity for his handling of the crisis, and his hard-line on borders will receive praise from many quarters.

On Friday, he argued that even though many states had restricted travel to Victorian residents, mass movement of people was cause for concern.

‘DEVASTATING BLOW’ AS BORDERS STAY SHUT

Victoria recorded 288 new coronavirus cases, the biggest daily increase in COVID-19 case numbers recorded in Australia.

And there are legitimate concerns Victoria’s COVID-19 outbreak could spread to other states.

It’s likely Tasmanian health authorities will want to see how the next few weeks play out before they open us up to interstate travel.

But the decision to put the next stage of freedom into limbo will be a devastating blow to tourism and hospitality businesses that have been hanging on in the face of dire economic conditions.

Already operators were facing up to losing visitation from our biggest market — Victoria — for an extended period of time.

The Federal Government’s JobKeeper payments are supporting more than 56,000 Tasmanians.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Prime Minister Scott Morrison have indicated there will be an extension to JobKeeper for businesses that still need the subsidy, and changes to the scheme will be announced on July 23.

And when they end — and they will end at some point or another — there’s no knowing the kind of desperate situation people will be left in.

That’s why delaying the reopening of state borders is a cruel blow for too many businesses on the brink.

To their credit, industry heads have been supportive and understanding of the Premier’s difficult call.

The truth is, that if we want our tourism and hospitality to exist when this nightmare is finally over, operators will need further support. And, for the foreseeable future, Tassie businesses are going to need local support more than any previous time.

As much as there will be plenty of businesses struggling to weather the storm, a delay in our borders opening is the lesser of two evils compared with a second wave of coronavirus in Tasmania and a new full lockdown.

So let’s get out and enjoy the freedom to explore our own state and consider ourselves, for now, lucky to be out of lockdown.