Labor questions border readiness

NOT enough is being done to prepare Tasmania for there-opening of borders for interstate travel, Labor says.

Opposition Leader Rebecca White said that with just over two weeks before f ree travel resumed, health check protocols had still not been developed or made public. The state will resume travel with low-risk jurisdictions — South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland, Northern Territory, the ACT and probably N SW on October 26.

Ms White said the community expected the government to have been working on plans for easing border restrictions for months and yet basic decisions were yet to be made.

“The date for reopening is only a matter of weeks away and yet we’ re hearing from airlines that they haven’ t yet started conversations with government about the health checks that need to be in place for arrivals and what protocols are in place, if somebody does present with symptoms and how they are dealt with at that time.

“This is critically important to get right and the government have had a long time to prepare for border store open .”

Ms White called on the government to reveal what measures would be in place.

A government spokeswoman said announcements on arrangements were imminent.

“Tasmania is now on a sensible three step transition plan to easing our border restrictions, and we are preparing to move to Step 2 of our plan on 26 October with systems in place to monitor, detect and respond to the risk of COVID-19,’’ she said.