DANCING IN THE DARK

School leavers await decision on formals Wedding waltz returns, nightclub ban remains

DARTS, eight-ball, karaoke and a bridal waltz at weddings have returned to Tasmania, but school leavers face an anxious wait to see if they will be able to dance at their formals.

The state government has extended the State of Emergency and Director of Public Health Mark Veitch insisted dancing at nightclubs would remain forbidden.

Premier Peter Gutwein on Friday shrugged off pressure from Prime Minister Scott Morrison to reconsider border restrictions.

PREMIER Peter Gutwein has shrugged off pressure from the Prime Minister to loosen the state’s border restrictions. Mr Gutwein on Friday said he alone had the final say on travel rules — but eased the rules on wedding dances and karaoke. The ban on eight-ball and darts was lifted on Friday. And a medical state of public health emergency has been extended until the end of October.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday that when Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland and Tasmania “unilaterally” imposed border measures it wasn’t the most “pressing issue” as the federal government was grappling with imwhich

mediate health issues. “In hindsight … we should have addressed the principles around those rules,” he said.

“That doesn’t mean there can’t be borders, that doesn’t mean there can’t be border restrictions, and it doesn’t mean that border restrictions in circumstances are not necessary,” he said.

“On behalf of Australians we’ve got to get this worked out.”

But Mr Gutwein said he had no doubts about who was in charge of decisions about the state. “The Premier’s view will prevail. I want to be very clear about that, on advice from public health we will make decisions regarding our borders,” he said.

“At the end of the day, I’ve been very clear that in terms of our borders and the safety of Tasmanians, that’s my first and foremost priority.”

Mr Gutwein said that after concerted lobbying by brides, wedding dances would again be allowed — but only for members of the bridal party.

“A couple getting married, along with parents, guardians, members of the bridal party will have that dance, which for many people is so very, very important,” he said.

“A number of brides that have contacted me, it would be fair to say I haven’t had that many grooms contact me, in terms of this particular activity a number of brides have.”

And he said that while he understood the desires of young people, the government was still considering allowing dancing at school formals.

Recent additions to the list of hot spots means that Tasmanians visiting Queensland municipalities — City of Brisbane, City of Ipswich and Logan City — have been declared COVID-affected, face mandatory hotel quarantine.

Mr Gutwein said that those who return in the next seven days will not be subject to the mandatory $2800 minimum charge.

There will be additional screening of all arrivals into the state in the form of temperature and symptom checks — which will be extended to essential travellers from hot spot areas — with extensions to testing and isolation requirements.

Mr Gutwein again urged people to maintain their vigilance, as the fight against COVID was not yet over, and the state was doing well.

“I took a walk at lunchtime today through our streets,” he said. “To be able to move relatively freely and appropriately socially distanced around out streets without needing to wear a face mask, without having the same sorts of concerns that they have in other states and territories, I think it’s testament to the very good job that Tasmanians have done.”

THE PREMIER’S VIEW WILL PREVAIL … I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT THAT

PREMIER PETER GUTWEIN