THE PANDEMIC Ease restrictions on local events
WHY are we still having crowd restrictions for outdoor events in Covid-free Tasmania? Royal Hobart Show chief, Scott Gadd, is obviously frustrated by what appears to be illogical decisions by the state government in restricting crowd numbers to the point where holding events is not worth the cost or effort (Mercury, October 2).
It may not be time to fully open our borders but it must be time to ease restrictions so Tasmanians can again enjoy what our state offers. Keep border restrictions tight, come down hard on the entitled low life who disregard our entry requirements but it’s time to ease up for local events. It has been working well in WA so why not here with the added protection of Bass Strait. Randall Corney
Acton Park
OVERSEAS TRAVEL
THERE is understandable joy in many Australian households with news of the opportunity for overseas travel in the near distant future. However, one must issue a word of caution to those quickly booking seats on international flights. Please remember the insurance fiasco when the pandemic hit 18 months ago; refunds were disallowed or partially paid, and travellers were stranded when flights were abruptly cancelled.
The Insurance Council of Australia should be upfront with Australians contemplating international travel, and explain in layman’ terms what travel insurance covers post Covid lockdown. Harry Quick
Berriedale
TOURISM DILEMMA
TOURISM operators calling for Tasmania to open to interstate and international visitors seem to be forgetting that if their demands are met, they will be at the front line, facing more potentially infected visitors than most Tasbetter
manians. While vaccination reduces, on average, the severity of Covid, it does not guarantee that one will not get sick, be hospitalised or even die. The extent to which it reduces onward infection is unknown, so they would also be putting their friends and relations at greater risk. Is this a price they are willing to pay?
SOME SUGGESTIONS
Tim Sprod Taroona
WHILE the Liberal government is contemplating how to manage quarantine and opening up our borders, here are some suggestions for their collective grey matter to consider.
Indenture some apprentices (job creation) to assist with quick build modular housing complexes for quarantine purposes located close to Hobart, Launceston and Devonport airports or even Macquarie Point whilst waiting for the sewerage treatment plant to be relocated.
When the pandemic is over these facilities
could be repurposed for communal social housing, youth rehabilitation centres or mental health facilities or even sold as relocatable homes to help with the housing shortage.
No need to hire expensive consultants: this is free advice to facilitate a pragmatic fast-track solution to bolster the statewide modular construction industry to provide much needed accommodation infrastructure which provides long-term benefit for society.
In the short term, these programs of works could showcase Tasmania’s proactive approach to dealing with inevitable Covid outbreaks resulting from opened borders whilst addressing longterm solutions for a range of pending social issues which require constructive solutions.
SAFER APPROACH
Monica Antel Cambridge
A SAFER, more democratic approach to address vaccine hesitancy, and increase voluntary vaccine uptake, lies in
education, addressing specific and legitimate concerns people may hold, and promoting genuine informed consent. It does not lie in censoring differing opinions, or removing rights and civil liberties fundamental in a democratic nation. It does not lie in the use of coercive, undemocratic and unethical mandates such as no jab, no job.
Rod Force Sandy Bay
PM’S RECIPE FOR DISASTER
SO our Prime Minister wants to make up for his incompetence and that of his health advisers in the early days of the pandemic by kowtowing to the airlines and allowing overseas travel very soon.
This is a recipe for disaster and the airlines, other travel industry sectors, essential workers and hospitality would not be experiencing these lockdowns now if he and his government acted swiftly and efficiently in the first place.
His insistence that the vaccine rollout was not a race and his delay in sourcing vaccines has caused us to be in the position we are now in and is affecting every person in Australia and crippling industry.
To open up early is only a ploy to regain those votes that he has lost but it will backfire when case numbers soar due to this stupid reopening decision.
He does not deserve to win the next election if the virus spirals out of control due to this panicky reopening.
He should instead insist on a 90 per cent vaccination rate for the total population and legislate for compulsory vaccination immediately and only when that rate is achieved should we allow this travel.
As well only fully vaccinated people should be allowed to travel or attend public events. This may see draconian but so be it if we are to survive.
Scott White
Sorell