Everything Tasmanians need to know about snap border lockdown with Melbourne
Tasmania will closed its border at 2pm today, with Premier Peter Gutwein outlining the rules for all interstate visitors and returning Tasmanians who are flying from Victoria. LATEST >>
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TASMANIA will close its borders to Victoria from 2pm today, Premier Peter Gutwein says.
Victoria has been declared a high-risk location and no travel will be permitted between Victoria and Tasmania without an essential traveller permit, Mr Gutwein told reporters in Launceston.
All permits under the government G2G PASS app will be cancelled at 2pm and residents wishing to return will be required to isolate in their own homes if granted an exemption, or in government-provided accommodation if they are not.
Those who have been to high risk locations will not be permitted to return at all and will have to remain in Victoria, Mr Gutwein said.
He said the border closure would be in place for at least seven days.
“We will be declaring all of Victoria a high risk location from 2pm today,” Mr Gutwein said.
“This means that after 2pm this afternoon, you can’t travel to Tasmania if you’ve spent time in Victoria in the previous 14 days, unless you are approved as an essential traveller by the Deputy State Controller.
“Tasmanian residents who are in Victoria at the moment can apply for essential travel status to return home but if approved, they’ll be required to quarantine at a suitable premises on arrival for 14 days. If they don’t have a suitable premise, they will be required to quarantine in government-designated accommodation at their own cost.”
Acting Victorian Premier James Merlino today announced the entire state wold be locked down for seven days from midnight Thursday.
Residents are only allowed to leave their homes for shopping, authorised work or education exercise, care-giving or medical reasons — or to be vaccinated.
Masks must be worn outdoor, public gatherings have been banned and home visits are banned.
He said public health experts had identified 10,000 primary and secondary contacts for active cases and overseas experience was that the virus was spreading faster than ever before.
“We have got to act now … if we wait too long, this thing will get away from us,” he said.
If you’re a returning Tasmanian resident
Tasmanian residents, who have a suitable residence to undertake 14 days quarantine, can apply to enter Tasmania as an Essential Traveller via the G2G Pass.
If you don’t have a suitable residence you will be required to quarantine in government-designated quarantine – fees may apply.
If you’re a visitor or traveller without a Tasmanian residence
Anyone intending to travel to Tasmania after 2pm Thursday May 27, who has been in Victoria in the 14 days prior to their travel, will not be able to enter Tasmania unless approved as an Essential Traveller. Quarantine and other requirements are in place for Essential Travellers
Tassie not ruled out as AFL hub: Premier
PREMIER Peter Gutwein has not ruled out Tasmania hosting an AFL hub if the league’s Victorian clubs are locked out of their home state for an extended period.
Mr Gutwein said he has spoken to AFL boss Gill McLachlan in the past 24 hours.
While relocating this weekend’s clash between Hawthorn and Gold Coast — already cancelled from Darwin as the Hawks were unable to leave Melbourne quick enough on Wednesday — is not an option due to “broadcasting” issues, Mr Gutwein said brief discussions had taken place on other options, including the moving of future matches or a team being based in Tasmania.
“We touched base last night via text and I have spoken with him this morning,” Mr Gutwein said.
“Obviously it is a moving feast with the AFL at the moment, again I would make the point and I have been clear right through this, we would not make any special arrangements or circumstances.
“They [clubs] would be treated the same as everybody else.
“Obviously if they had teams that were outside of Victoria at the moment that wanted to be domiciled here that could enter the state — bearing in mind it is only Victoria that the borders are closed to — then obviously we would have those discussions.
“I certainly wouldn’t rule it [a Tasmanian hub] out.
“My understanding is those arrangements [for the Hawks-Suns match] have already been dealt with.
“If I could make the point, in terms of no games being here this weekend it was a matter of broadcasting, that was the conversation I had with Gil.
“In terms of us making an offer for teams that could come into Tasmania that weren’t needing to quarantine, we certainly said we would look to facilitate that, again there were other matters that needed to be taken into account and that wasn’t possible.”
After all AFL content was scrapped from Tasmania last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Hawthorn has played two matches in Launceston and North Melbourne has hosted one at Blundstone Arena in 2021.
Victoria lockdown opens AFL game opportunity for Tassie
THE expected upheaval to the AFL season caused by a Covid-19 outbreak in Melbourne is a “perfect opportunity” for Tasmania to showcase its credentials, a prominent football commentator says.
Speaking on TV show Footy Classified on Wednesday night, Caroline Wilson said changes to the AFL fixture as a result of expected restrictions in Victoria presented an opportunity for Tasmania.
It was suggested Tasmania could offer to host more games as the AFL considers possible changes to the fixture as a result of Melbourne’s evolving virus situation.
Victoria will be plunged back into stage three lockdown restrictions, with schools shut and only four reasons to leave home under an announcement to be made later on Thursday.
It comes as a business case for a Tasmanian AFL team is reviewed by a league-appointed reviewer, former Geelong president Colin Carter.
“Tasmania’s role is intriguing,” Wilson said.
“Colin Carter is doing that big report on behalf of the AFL … he’s been over there anyway, meeting the Premier (Peter Gutwein), he’s been given tours of the wonderful parts of Hobart.”
Fellow panel member Ross Lyon suggested Tasmania rethink its strategy on borders from last year, in which no AFL games were played in the state.
“Well, they might have to change their philosophy from last year, the Tasmanian government, because their borders went up pretty quickly,” he said.
Wilson replied: “Well, the premier is in place now, he doesn’t have an election to face. And he’s also trying to get a team in Tasmania.
“This is a perfect opportunity for Tasmania to showcase what a wonderful place they are to host AFL football.”
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