Travel restrictions may be relaxed if health advice changes: Premier

Tasmania’s borders may open sooner than December 1 based on one condition, Premier Peter Gutwein told parliament this morning. LATEST >>

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TASMANIANS might be allowed to travel interstate sooner than December 1 if advice from public health officials changes, parliament has heard.

Premier Peter Gutwein yesterday announced a three-month extension to the state’s border restrictions.

In state parliament today, Opposition leader Rebecca White said that while Labor understood and supported the decision – she called on the Premier to share the health advice on which it was made.

Mr Gutwein said he was open to letting Tasmanians travel early if things changed.

“If things worsen, if there are no safety restrictions, then obviously we’ve got another decision to make,” he said.

“If things improve, if the public health advice changes, if we can have a travel bubble, then obviously we will take that advice.”

Premier Peter Gutwein addresses the media after announcing the state’s borders would be closed until December 1. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Mr Gutwein said he would hold a public briefing on the reasons for the decision later today.

“One thing that I have heard from industry is that they want certainty, that’s why we have set a date,” he said.

Encouraging locals to holiday at home was one of the key measures the government would pursue in the interim to support local tourism operators, he said.

“You only have to look at what is happening in Victoria, they are in a state of disaster,” Mr Gutwein said.

“Victoria with the difficulties it is in, is 60 per cent of our interstate tourism market, I think it has to be understood that market isn’t coming back quickly. We have to do what we can to support intrastate travel,” Mr Gutwein said.

Ms White and the Premier clashed after the Opposition leader raised concerns about lax supervision of people in quarantine.

The opposition leader said her party was aware of multiple cases of people who were not contacted by health authorities while self-isolating.

Mr Gutwein accused Ms White of sitting on in`formation which should have been brought to the attention of authorities.

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