Government relying on “outdated” advice when it comes to restricting outdoor crowd numbers
A “lazy” Tasmanian Government continues to hide behind outdated information when it comes to crowd numbers at outdoor sporting events, one MP says as grand final weekend is upon us.
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A “LAZY” Tasmanian Government continues to hide behind outdated information when it comes to outdoor sporting events.
Opposition sports spokesman David O’Byrne said more fans could and should have been allowed into Saturday’s SFL grand final between Huonville and Franklin at North Hobart Oval.
Just 1000 – including players, coaches, umpires and ground staff – are allowed into the venue despite the state having no active COVID cases, no community transmission in months and with the borders still firmly closed.
AFL games in Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia — all states with minimal or no active COVID cases — have allowed tens of thousands into the grounds, while even last weekend’s WAFL grand final at Fremantle hosted 10,000 fans.
O’Byrne said the Government was still basing its restrictions on the AIS Rebooting Sport in a COVID-19 Environment document released in May, and has not been updated since despite Tasmania being in a far better position now.
“The Government is relying on this document for limitations around outdoor sporting events and there has been significant change since its release in May,” O’Byrne said.
“It is just evidence of a lazy Government not doing the required work.
“Other states can do it, clearly the advice should be reflected against restrictions and steps the association could put in place to mitigate the risk.
“You can’t tell me the health advice is any markedly different in Tasmania that it is in WA, Queensland, SA or the Northern Territory?”
Tasmanian Sports Minister Jane Howlett said the state would continue to base its decisions on public health advice.
“Public health are looking at various bits of advice on a weekly basis,” Howlett said.
“The Government will take advice based on public health and we will not move from this.”
But Howlett said what was happening interstate was of no bearing on Tasmania.
“As a Government we are not too concerned what other jurisdictions are doing,” she said.
“We are focused on Tasmania and what’s best for the Tasmanian people.”
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