Tasmanian businesses call for tight border restrictions to stay, but an easing of internal rules to stimulate trade

A group of Tasmanian business owners are calling to keep the borders closed to tourists but lift all other restrictions so more locals can get out and about spending to help businesses survive.

• ‘We’ll throw the book at you’: Stern warning to travellers
• Melburnians fleeing COVID hot spots for safer areas

THE state’s borders should stay closed indefinitely and all internal coronavirus restrictions eased to open up the local economy, say a group of Tasmanian business leaders and owners.

Ahead of an update by Premier Peter Gutwein on Friday afternoon, the group gathered outside parliament with a clear message — keep Tasmania’s borders locked down but let the locals come out.

They have also called for a review of a travel bubble arrangement announced last week which would see the state open up to South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

Tasmania has had 227 confirmed cases of coronavirus — but only one since May 15 — a young Tasmanian woman who had returned from Victoria and was in hotel quarantine.

“The Premier is 100 per cent right — we live in the safest place in the world,’’ Tasmanian Small Business Council chief executive Robert Mallett said.

“We’re effectively COVID virus free but unfortunately Salamanca traders along with just about every other small business have been restricted … from operating at full capacity.

“The value of operating at full capacity is that we need less government stimulus and I think we can actually stand on our own two feet now.”

Ian Vaughan, the managing director of Pub Banc Group, which owns venues like Cargo, Jack Greene, Post St Social and the Observatory nightclub, said businesses were being hamstrung by social distancing rules.

“Local customers want to come out and support the local businesses,’’ he said.

Rose Flynn of business Little Aussie Snuggle Buds that was going to operate at Salamanca Markets with Ian Vaughan of Pub Banc Group at Post Street Social on the Hobart waterfront. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

“We come down to the waterfront on a Saturday night and every business on the waterfront has line-ups of people because they can’t get in because of social distancing restrictions.

“There’s no eight ball, no standing up and socialising with friends and no dancing. The Observatory nightclub and other nightclubs across the Hobart city area are still closed and so none of those employees have any work.”

Mr Vaughan said the rules were confusing and frustrating, and he argued the hospitality industry was being unfairly treated compared to other sectors.

“We don’t need to let interstate people in. Let’s relax the rules for the locals,’’ he said.

Customs House Hotel owner Paul Jubb said keeping the borders closed to keep the virus out and easing internal restrictions would enable his business to increase its capacity.

Mr Jubb said a second lockdown would be devastating for business.

Rose Flynn said she supports on easing of Tasmania’s restrictions because it would enable small businesses like hers to thrive.

She started Little Aussie Snugglebuds — a business focused on souvenirs for international tourists — earlier this year and intended to trade at Salamanca Market before coronavirus rules forced it to be shut down.

State independent member for Clark, Madeleine Ogilvie, joined the group outside parliament and said Tasmania had contained the virus well, but could now go a step further.

“We have handled this well. We can also handle well keeping our borders closed hard, plus letting the locals come out,’’ she said.

“The people of Tasmania are intelligent, they are stoic, and if we have a problem, we can impose restrictions again if we need to.”

Follow @cwhiteley12