Premier Peter Gutwein to call shots over cruise ship visits to Tasmania

The resumption of cruise ship visits to the state will be ­decided by the state government said Peter Gutwein as the federal government pushes for the the industry to restart by Christmas. LATEST + HAVE YOUR SAY >>

THE resumption of cruise ship visits to the state will be ­decided by the Tasmanian government irrespective of any decision by the ­commonwealth.

Premier Peter Gutwein said on Sunday he would work with the federal government to ­determine when cruise ship visits would be allowed but ulti­mately he would decide.

“No decision has been made yet and regardless of what the federal government does we control the ports,” Mr Gutwein said.

“We will determine when cruise ships come back to ­Tasmania.”

Cruise ship visitors would have to be double vaccinated like other visitors, he said.

“Nobody will come into Tasmania with a different set of rules, you have to be double vaccinated,” Mr Gutwein said.

When borders open on ­December 15, visitors from NSW, Victoria and the ACT will have to have a negative Covid test three days before they arrive.

Cruise ship Radiance of the Seas at Hobart. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

An order preventing the cruise ship industry from operating is under review.

International travellers will also be able to cash in on some bargains, with duty free shopping reopening at airports.

Health Minister Greg Hunt revealed the biosecurity determination preventing retail operating had been axed, adding high vaccination rates had also put cruise ships next in line.

“Duty free is back on,” Mr Hunt said.

“The next one that we are reviewing is cruise ships.”

The government was working with chief health officers, states and territories because a “double green light” is needed to restart the industry.

Mr Hunt said he expected to make a decision in coming weeks once it had the medical information.

“It will require at least one state or territory to partner on that,” he said.

“We’ll let them make their own considerations, but we would like to say cruising back on before Christmas.”

Premier Peter Gutwein addresses the Tasmanian House of Assembly.

Mr Hunt said opening duty free was an important step in Australia’s reopening, but domestic borders remained the most important issue.

“Families being able to ­reunite, loved ones being able to come together,” he said.

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese defended Western Australia’s approach to borders, saying Premier Mark McGowan had kept West Australians safe.

Mr Gutwein again implored Tasmanians to get vaccinated: “If we get the vaccination rate up high that will significantly slow the virus and people will be less likely to die.”