Premier to reveal plan to reopen the state

Premier Peter Gutwein has unveiled part of his plan to reopen Tasmania after the coronavirus pandemic, with more to come throughout today’s meeting of parliament.

Premier Peter Gutwein speaks at the daily COVID-19 update on Wednesday. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

PREMIER Peter Gutwein has unveiled part of his plan to reopen Tasmania after the coronavirus pandemic, which has claimed twelve lives to date.

The reopening of green spaces will be one of the first steps out of our COVID-19 induced hibernation.

Today, Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein will deliver his vision for the state’s recovery in parliament, as the number of new cases starts to stabilise and the North-West coronavirus cluster shows signs of settling down.

In what is expected to be the Premier’s most optimistic speech since the crisis took hold in Australia, Mr Gutwein said he was focused on rebuilding a stronger Tasmania.

It is understood that closures of national parks and green spaces could be some of the first restrictions to be overturned.

While Mr Gutwein is not expected to announce any immediate easing of restrictions, he will spell out the four safeguards required ahead of any changes.

“I know at times it seems the bad news associated with coronavirus will never end,” Mr Gutwein said in a video released last night, pre-empting today’s speech.

“The good news, though, is that there is light at the end of the tunnel.”

Mr Gutwein will say that increased testing, improved tracing via the Federal Govern-ment’s new COVIDSafe app, and improved rapid response capabilities will all be needed before restrictions are eased.

He will also spell out details of COVID-19 safe plans for workplaces, public spaces and meeting places.

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How industry and organisations can put these plans in place will be revealed today, allowing the government to work with individuals to safely get back to business.

“Our plan is to recover from the virus and to rebuild a stronger Tasmania,” he said last night.

Originally suspended until August, parliament will return today, and for one day next week, before taking a three-week break.

The government will also today release the findings of a report into the North-West Regional Hospital outbreak.

Labor leader Rebecca White said her party wanted a timely inquiry into the handling of the coronavirus pandemic in Tasmania.

“The Labor Party believes that we need to have a Royal Commission or a commission of inquiry here.

“We’ve had one third of our hospitals knocked out, we’ve had the military brought in, we’ve had a number of people die, nearly 20,000 people lost their jobs, businesses closed,” Ms White said.

Mr Gutwein said he had already announced an independent inquiry — but said it would be held when the crisis had passed.

“There will be an inquiry, that’s one thing Ms White and I can agree on,” he said.

Today’s morning government coronavirus briefing will be held at 8.30am.