Small business owner says easing all restrictions locally would work

A Tasmanian chocolatier is so passionate about the need to keep our drawbridge up he has vowed to lead a class action against the State if a reopening of borders brings a new coronavirus spike.

A TASMANIAN chocolatier who has lost 60 per cent of his income during COVID-19 has urged the Premier to hold firm under border pressure but to immediately lift all restrictions on locals.

Malcolm Ryan, who runs Rhuby the Eccentric Chocolatier at Latrobe, is so passionate about the need to keep Tasmania’s drawbridge up that he has vowed to lead a class action against the State if a reopening of borders brings a new coronavirus spike.

“I have fully supported the Premier till now but will consider legal action if the Government allows coronavirus to enter the State when we have gone 37 days free. If there is a second wave here in Tassie due to sloppy border management there will be grounds for legal recourse,” Mr Ryan said.

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Eccentric Chocolatier Malcolm Ryan owner operator of Rhuby who has patented a new balling technique or the production of fruit and vegetable chocolate confectionary at Latrobe . PICTURE CHRIS KIDD

In a letter to Peter Gutwein, who will make an announcement about a possible reopening of Tasmania’s borders on Friday, the North West small business owner pleaded for him not to “bow to economic pressure” from business and tourism leaders.

“You have done a great job in getting Tasmanian to no new cases and we cannot risk opening up our borders when Victoria has had 12 new cases in the past day or so,” he said.

“I would say that you should go harder on any incoming passengers and that they be put into forced isolation and with Tasmanians open up everything and tell all Tasmanians to get out and support Tasmanian businesses with no restrictions.

“I am about 60% down in revenue and that 60% is mainly national and international tourists so I should be the first to cry for the borders to be opened, if I was selfish and greedy, but I am not. I want Tasmanian to be coronavirus free and Tasmanians to support Tasmanian businesses. “Don’t weaken Peter.”

Mr Ryan, who has been running his gourmet rhubarb chocolate business for six years, says if all the money Tasmanians spent on their usual shopping trips to Melbourne and holidays in Bali was spent on local holidays and experiences, there was enough money to see local business boom.