Relief for Tassie FIFO workers

TASMANIAN fly-in-fly-out workers and their families have applauded border changes allowing interstate workers to return to the state without having to quarantine.

Premier Peter Gutwein yesterday said Tasmanian FIFO workers in non-COVID hot spots could return to the state as of midnight Sunday.

The move will mean FIFO workers would be exempt from the 14-day isolation period placed on other non-essential worker arrivals to the state.

Delighted by the announcement yesterday was Launceston mother Jarrah, whose FIFO husband James has spent about three months in home quarantine this year.

“It’s going to be amazing for us,” she said.

“James is due to arrive home later this month and he had expressed disappointment about not being able to take me out to dinner for my upcoming birthday.

“We thought that couldn’t be an option so that’s amazing that it can.”

Jarrah said she imagined the easing of restrictions would be beneficial for the mental health of Tasmanian FIFO workers. “Our family and friends in a FIFO group would often see our husbands acting happy and being playful with the kids but we’ve noticed a drop there since the lockdown restrictions,” she said.

Queenstown grandmother Janine Kelly, who works as an underground truck driver in South Australia, said she would begin planning a trip home following yesterday’s announcement.

“I’ve missed two of my grandchildren’s birthdays and the birth of a great grandchild after being away from home since March,” Ms Kelly said.

“I’m looking forward to getting home, relaxing and doing some things I haven’t been able to do for a long time.”

Ms Kelly said she was pleased with the FIFO border announcement but said “there has been backflips on border decisions, is this going to happen again?”.

Her comments come as Premier Gutwein yesterday earmarked the end of October as a period in which Tasmania could open its borders early to non COVID-hot spots if safe to do so.