Advertisement

Siege mentality: Australian state goes medieval in coronavirus defence

Peter Gutwein says Tasmania won't automatically open its border when vaccination hits 80 per cent.

Peter Gutwein says Tasmania won't automatically open its border when vaccination hits 80 per cent. Photo: TND

Tasmania has reneged on its agreement to open its border to South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory at the end of the week.

The Apple Isle, which is currently coronavirus-free, was set to open its border to SA, WA and NT on August 7, followed by Queensland, NSW and the ACT on August 14.

However, Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein on Monday said his government would not open the state to anyone until at least August 31.

Health authorities would review figures on the mainland on a week-by-week basis.

Premier Peter Gutwein is keeping Tasmania isolated. Photo: AAP

It comes as Victoria declares a state of disaster and imposes a 8pm to 5am curfew in Melbourne, with hundreds of new COVID-19 cases recorded each day.

“It simply isn’t the time to open the borders right now,” Mr Gutwein said.

“Now is the time to utilise our best asset, which is our moat.”

Tasmania recorded no COVID-19 cases from about 800 tests on Sunday.

The Tasmanian government’s decision to continue mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine periods for arrivals follows a decision on Friday to ban travellers from COVID-19 hotspots in Queensland, with virus-hit regions of NSW and Victoria already banned.

People from those areas are only allowed in under exceptional circumstances.

Mr Gutwein implored people to do the right thing when filling out border documents.

Tasmania regained its virus-free status after the recovery of a young woman who returned from Victoria and tested positive while in hotel quarantine on July 20.

Some business groups had called for borders to stay closed and internal restrictions to be further eased, considering the island state is virus-free.

Stay informed, daily
A FREE subscription to The New Daily arrives every morning and evening.
The New Daily is a trusted source of national news and information and is provided free for all Australians. Read our editorial charter
Copyright © 2024 The New Daily.
All rights reserved.