Premier to make call on borders ‘ this week’

THE state government is yet to confirm if Tasmania’s borders will open to New South Wales this week.

It was previously announced a decision would be made to reopen Tasmania’s borders to NSW on Friday, subject to Public Health advice.

Along with Victoria, NSW is the only Australian state from which travellers are unable to enter Tasmania without serving a 14- day quarantine period.

Liberal MP Jane Howlett said a government announcement on the NSW- Tasmania border opening would be made soon.

“As far as borders are concerned, the Premier [ Peter Gutwein] will have more to say on that this week,” she said.

Ms Howlett said Mr Gutwein would also this week provide an update on when Tasmania’s borders with Victoria would reopen.

The government had previously earmarked December 1 as a possible border reopening date with Tasmania’s neighbour state, subject to Public Health advice.

Greens Leader Cassy O’Connor said her party would support Public Health advice if it deemed it safe to open the borders to NSW on Friday.

“I think that Tasmanians, if they can be reassured by Public Health that it’s safe to open the borders to NSW on Friday, they will understand and accept that,” she said.

Labor leader Rebecca White said with borders on track to be opened to NSW, it was “beyond time” for the government to introduce a standardised system for recording customer details.

“It doesn’t make sense for the government to insist on maintaining restrictions on things like dancing and drinking while standing while leaving massive gaps in their ability to contact trace,” she said.