The rest of the country can have 50 guests or more – so isn’t it time to ease our restrictions?

Tasmania has the strongest COVID-19 rules in the country but it’s also the safest state — so isn’t it time ease things a bit more, especially in time for Christmas lunch with the extended family? HAVE YOUR SAY IN OUR POLL >>

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INDEPENDENT member of parliament Madeleine Ogilvie on Thursday questioned the government’s restrictions around the number of people allowed in private residences.

Currently, under public health rules, you can have gatherings of no more than 20 people.

But with the festive season just around the corner, Ms Ogilvie quite correctly pointed out that it could spell disaster for Christmas lunches or New Year gatherings.

“Keeping the gathering limits at 20 is a bit Christmas Grinchy,” she said.

“I and others have very large families and I am going to have to ask you to call granddad and uninvite him because I am too scared to.”

Is the gatherings limit for Tasmania a bit Grinchy?

Independent MP Madeleine Ogilvie. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Tasmania has for some months now been the safest state in the country with no community transmission and only a couple of cases that were either in hotel quarantine or under medical supervision.

Yet our rules are still some of the strongest in the country.

Tasmanians in the main have been relieved with Premier Peter Gutwein’s no-nonsense approach to coronavirus, which has undoubtedly led us to the relatively safe space we have enjoyed for months now.

Understandably, however, patience wears a little thin when rules don’t seem to make sense.

In Queensland the limit for at-home gatherings is 30, rising to 50 by December 1.

In South Australia the limit is 50 and in Western Australia there is no limit at all.

Ms Ogilvie was the politician who raised the fact you could tackle another player on a footy field but not enjoy a dance at your school formal.

Premier Peter Gutwein during question time in state parliament. Picture: Zak Simmonds

And tongues continue to wag about the fact you still aren’t allowed to drink standing up.

Tasmanians have to be allowed to practise common sense.

We know what appropriate safe social distancing looks like and we should be allowed to apply those principles no matter what we are doing.

That said, Tasmanians also have to prepare for the goalposts to shift.

Mr Gutwein offered no promises but said he was in discussion with public health experts about the private-home restrictions.

When borders open to safe states on October 26, there is a slightly increased chance of an outbreak.

Once those borders open, Tasmanians will need to take enormous personal responsibility to ensure they are doing all they can to prevent any potential spread.

That’s our new normal. And globally the countries that are best in class at controlling the spread are not in lockdown, but instead following hygiene advice, tracking and tracing, and social distancing.

Ensuring Tasmanians heed public health advice requires the government to maintain credibility and in order for people to continue to listen and follow, the rules need to make sense.