EDITORIAL: Tasmanians need to be kept in the loop by the government about COVID-19

Greater transparency is needed, we need to be kept in the loop with how the government is making drastic decisions, like closing the borders for three months – or reserving the right to change their mind, writes Mercury editor Jenna Cairney.

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• SURVEY: Have your say on the state of Tasmania’s borders

ON TUESDAY, out of nowhere, Premier Peter Gutwein announced in parliament that the Tasmanian borders would not open before December 1.

Yesterday in parliament, Mr Gutwein said if the public health advice changed or if it said there was an opportunity to have a travel bubble, he would consider that.

In yesterday’s paper, in this column, we called on the Premier to make available the public health advice that led to his decision to keep the borders closed for more than three months.

To his credit, he called a press conference with both the State Controller and Tasmania’s senior health official.

He explained that a number of factors – not purely based on health outcomes – led to the decision.

What was made clear was that the Victorian outbreak changed everything.

We thought we knew how to handle the virus, we thought we even knew how to handle an outbreak but the scale of devastation caused by that second wave cannot be underestimated.

As Tasmania’s Director of Public Health Mark Veitch pointed out – coronavirus doesn’t come with a handbook or instructions. Lessons have to be learned the hard way.

If what happened in Victoria were to happen here it would be disastrous.

Premier Peter Gutwein at a coronavirus press conference on the August 19, 2020. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

What Mr Gutwein didn’t say was that from a political perspective, the cautious approach is his best bet at re-election. Mr 93 per cent popularity need only look at what’s happened to Daniel Andrews to see how quickly public opinion can change.

From a health perspective, Mr Gutwein did say there was need to look at quality of care and, in particular, plans for the aged care sector should there be another outbreak.

In Melbourne, aged care facilities have become morgues with elderly residents with coronavirus sedated and effectively left to die. These patients have been refused admission to hospitals. Whole staff have had to furlough with extra help being flown in from across the country.

That state’s death toll is now 363.

Superimpose that scenario on Tasmania – a vulnerable, elderly population with an already overburdened health service – and we know the toll would be much, much worse.

We support government needing more time to ensure better pandemic planning happens but we also urge Mr Gutwein and his health experts to share with the public what we will do differently, what improvements are now being made and within what time frame.

Mr Gutwein acknowledged himself that many Tasmanians are crippled with anxiety over this virus and that too has informed his decision-making. That is all the more reason to keep talking to the public about the government’s preparations. If there is an outbreak in an aged care facility – where and how will those patients be treated, and why?

Mr Gutwein also said economic reasons underpinned his decision – a Melbourne-style lockdown in Tasmania would cost up to $600 million. That’s a significant consideration.

Knowing the reasons behind the border decision doesn’t necessarily make the repercussions any easier to stomach but it does show a respect to those who are having to sacrifice so much to try to keep our state safe from this virus.