Time to reopen borders to travellers from other safe states: Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

As more capital cities become safe from coronavirus, business and tourism leaders are pressuring the State Government to set a date to open the borders. Find out the latest >>

FLIGHTS from Tasmania to “safe” capitals such as Adelaide, Perth, Darwin and Brisbane — bypassing Melbourne — are being discussed as the business community joins tourism leaders to pressure the State Government to reopen Tasmania’s borders.

The Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has called for Premier Peter Gutwein to set a firm date for the state’s removal from isolation.

TCCI chief Michael Bailey said Tasmania needed to create a bubble with New Zealand and other states that had the virus under control.

“Airlines are already talking about direct flights from NZ to Hobart and from here to Adelaide. We need to be careful with Victoria and New South Wales but we need to get other links open and people moving,” Mr Bailey said.

Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Michael Bailey

Victoria has reintroduced some COVID-19 restrictions after a spike in new infections.

Mr Gutwein is sticking with July as the earliest Tasmania will let interstate visitors in.

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Mr Gutwein said he understood why the tourism and hospitality sector wanted restrictions removed and borders to open fully.

“That is why under our staged plan we are bringing stage 3 restrictions forward by nearly three weeks to this Friday, along with setting a date in July for when borders can open.

I will have more to say on both these matters this week,” Mr Gutwein said.

“We do need to be cognisant of the situation in Victoria, where there is now widespread community transmission, which has meant reintroducing restrictions and closing some schools.

“It is not how well we are doing that will dictate the time frame for the opening of our borders, but rather what is happening in other states and territories.”

The tourism industry is also chafing at the bit to get things moving again.

TICT chief executive Luke Martin said hundreds of jobs, every week, were disappearing with no definite reopen date in sight. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Tourism Industry Council Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin on Friday said 350 jobs a week were disappearing and a definite reopen date was needed to be set to allow business to plan.

Mr Bailey agrees, saying a date would allow people to book holidays and make business plans.

“We desperately need to get into those other safe markets and for people from there to come here,” Mr Bailey said.

He praised the Government’s handling of the pandemic but it was time to reopen with sensible precautions.

“We should aim to reopen our borders in line with the timelines set by other states. We shouldn’t be the last state out of isolation.”

Labor leader Rebecca White said a week was too long to wait for a firm reopen date.

“It is more than a month since we have had a case of the virus here yet we continue to have some of the strictest restrictions. Of course we need to take notice of what is happening in Victoria and NSW but it is time to open up to safe states.”