Battle to keep Covid support

TASMANIA will push hard for the federal government to continue Covid relief measures at Saturday’s snap national cabinet meeting, Premier Jeremy Rockliff says.

Mr Rockliff’s call for the continuation of pandemic leave Covid payments and Commonwealth-subsidised RATs was echoed on Friday by business and unions.

“What we want to see is that we’ve been listened to and that our voice as states have been heard, we’re reflecting the needs of our community and my expectation is that the Prime Minister will listen,” the Premier said.

“I’m very pleased that he has heard premiers’ calls for our national cabinet meeting and for a discussion and I look forward to those discussions and some positive outcomes.”

Tasmania recorded 1727 new cases of Covid-19 and another death on Friday.

Figures released by the government on Friday show the total number of active cases at 10,229 around the state – a fresh three-month high. More than 195,000 Tasmanians have recovered from Covid-19.

There were 133 people in hospital with Covid-19, 33 of whom were being treated primarily for the virus.

“Sadly, I can confirm a woman in her 90s has passed away in the state’s north,” Mr Rockliff said. “I extend my sincere condolences to her family, friends, and loved ones.”

Despite the rising case numbers and death toll – which are not expected to peak for a month or more – Mr Rockliff said he was not expecting a return to mask mandates.

“No. We’re working with Public Health … and we have no requests from Public Health to introduce mandates and we have consistently been working alongside and guided by Public Health advice,” he said.

Unions Tasmania secretary Jessica Munday and the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Michael Bailey were united in their support of the stance the Premier is taking to Saturday’s meeting.

“With rising numbers of Covid cases in Tasmania and requirements for people to continue to self-isolate, it is unreasonable for these support measures to be dropped,” Ms Munday said.

“Unions don’t want to see workers forced to again have to choose between putting food on the table and earning a living.

“We also note that many workers who do have an entitlement to paid sick leave have run out of it after using it multiple times to isolate, care for someone, or recover from Covid themselves over the past two years of the pandemic,” Ms Munday said.

Mr Bailey said the business community was still feeling the impact of the Covid pandemic and the withdrawal of support for leave requirements would further compound the current situation.

“We would ask that the Prime Minister reconsider his position given we are still facing the impacts of the Covid pandemic,” Mr Bailey said.

Labor’s health spokeswoman Anita Dow wanted to know what the government’s plan was to deal with rising Covid case numbers.

“The government says they’ve got a plan. But what is their plan?” she said.