Lockdown battle angers returnee

A WOMAN who was desperate to get back to Hobart from Victoria in time for her new job went through an emotional rollercoaster following lockdown travel delays last weekend.

Sally O’Connor (pictured), was ready to fly home to Hobart from Mansfield, Victoria last Friday when she learned her G2G Pass was rejected at the last minute because of the sudden three-day lockdown in southern Tasmania.

The 29-year-old was confused as to why she couldn’t travel from a safe area into Hobart, given she was returning negative Covid-19 tests, was double-vaccinated and was willing to quarantine for two weeks alone at her home.

“It seems really silly that I can’t come home when I’m in an area with no cases in Victoria,” she said.

Ms O’Connor said as the days went by, she risked not being out of quarantine in time to begin her new job.

She said the stress of uncertainty and mixed messages made her feel “stranded”.

A Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management spokeswoman said while the lockdown was lifting from

Monday night, interstate people hoping to enter southern Tasmania were encouraged to reapply for G2G Pass approval.

“Interstate arrivals into southern Tasmania were cancelled on Friday as a result of the snap lockdown, to reduce the risk of Covid-19 spreading,” the spokeswoman said.

Ms O’Connor has successfully had her G2G Pass reapproved as lockdown has lifted.

She flew into Hobart on Monday night, but the delay has meant she will miss the first few days at her new job.

“I definitely feel relieved now, but I’m still frustrated that it took five days of bitching and moaning at them,” she said.

“Not being allowed to come home because of southern Tasmania being in lockdown was a ridiculous reason as I posed no risk to the public.

“They could have at least let me come home and go into hotel quarantine but that wasn’t allowed either. Just because one idiot can’t follow the quarantine rules, doesn’t mean that the rest (can’t).”