As it stands, FIFO workers are not given the same freedoms as essential workers entering the state, so they must undergo 14 days of home quarantine immediately each time they return home.

For the hundreds of Tasmanian FIFO workers who work two weeks on, two weeks off, the impossible time frames factoring in travel and mandatory quarantine means many are forced to stay near work sites thousands of kilometres from their families.

It also means missing important family milestones.

Launceston couple Aleathea and Jason Barnett have now spent 163 days away from their family, will miss their daughter’s 21st birthday and only just be able to return home in time for Christmas.

>> SURVEY: HAVE YOUR SAY ON THE STATE OF TASSIE’S BORDERS

The Barnetts both work a fortnight roster driving dump trucks in the Pilbara, so with the current 14-day quarantine mandates in both Tasmania and Western Australia, it’s impossible to come home.

“We are indefinitely staying in Perth in Airbnbs,” Mrs Barnett said.

“We initially thought it would be a maximum of three months so decided to stay put in WA to protect ourselves and our families back home.

“Now we are past five months and WA have no active community cases and neither has Tasmania — our patience and our livelihood is seriously being impacted now.”

Mrs Barnett said her mental health was suffering more than her husband’s, who keeps telling her to go home and leave him in WA to work.

“(But) we work together and do everything together. I am a very family oriented person so it is very hard,” she said.

“We are setting our mindframe for December so we don’t keep getting disappointed but as soon as we don’t have to quarantine in Tasmania we will be home in a flash.

“We have the support of our work, so it is up to Tasmania now to let us home.”

PREMIER’S FULL RESPONSE:

Speaking this afternoon, Premier Peter Gutwein said he believed it was “fair and reasonable” that FIFO workers were treated the same as other returning Tasmanians.

Here’s his full reply to Mercury reporter David Killick, who asked if Mr Gutwein would consider allowing Tasmanian FIFO workers to apply as essential travellers to avoid repeatedly going through the cycle of quarantine:

>> WATCH THE FULL UPDATE FROM THE PREMIER HERE

“I know there are a lot of FIFO workers who will watch this today and will certainty make comment in terms of their situation,” Mr Gutwein said.

“I understand it is frustrating, but we are treating them the same way we are treating other Tasmanians that come back to the state.

“If you are Tasmanian and you enter the state from a hotspot area, Victoria or any of the other hotspot areas you will go into quarantine for two weeks in a hotel.

“I think that is fair and that is reasonable.

“If you are a Tasmanian returning from elsewhere in the country then you will go into two weeks of quarantine (at home).

“And again, difficult as it is for some fly-in, fly-out workers I think that it is fair and it is reasonable as we try to keep our community safe.

“There are some that have had their working arrangements changed.

“I mentioned that on the weekend I was chatting to a fly-in fly-out worker that while frustrated by what was occurring was understanding of the circumstances we were in and I understand the firm that they work for had actually moved to a five on, five off type arrangement.

“Talking to them at the weekend was their third week of their five weeks back in the state and they were able to spend time out in the community.

“It is difficult, I understand that, but as we move forward towards the first of December, I think it would be fair to say that we need to find a glidepath in terms of being able to open up to those safer jurisdictions and we will continue to look at this and obviously be guided by public health advice.

‘Missing important memories’

Bridgenorth man Roger Williams is another stuck in Western Australia awaiting the easing of quarantine rules for FIFO workers to allow him to come home to his wife and grandkids.

The 63-year-old will miss his 34-year wedding anniversary to his wife Helen, who he described as “a strong girl” bearing the brunt of the load while he’s away.

“It’s bloody tough,” Mr Williams said.

He describes Tasmania’s FIFO community as “the hidden workers” who he feels are being forgotten about.

“It’s just impractical. Every time I go home I have to take annual leave to fit in the two-week quarantine and actually be allowed to get stuff done around the house,” Mr Williams said.

While he’s hoping the borders lift by December 1, he admitted spending two weeks in a hotel room each time he returns from visiting his family was taking its toll.

“You’ve gotta be strong, some people are and some people aren’t …,” Mr Williams said.

“I’m very fortunate my wife’s a strong girl and can cope when I’m away but humans aren’t designed for this.”

Are you a FIFO worker or family member who wants to share their story about how the border restrictions are affecting you? Email cas.garvey@news.com.au