Border reopening date good for business

Tasmanian Labor welcomes the Premier setting a date
for the reopening of borders, subject to public health advice.

Labor Leader Rebecca White said the move is
consistent with Labor’s calls in recent weeks for the Premier to provide more
certainty for business and get people back into jobs.

“The setting of Friday 24 July for our border to
reopen will provide the clarity businesses have been asking for so they can
start taking bookings to welcome visitors to Tasmania again and get people back
into jobs,” Ms White said.

“While subject to public health advice like all other
stages of the roadmap to recovery have been, having a date to work towards will
allow businesses to begin planning to restart their operations.

“This announcement is particularly important for the hospitality and tourism
sectors which have suffered some of the biggest job losses throughout the
pandemic.

I would urge the Premier to expedite
discussions with airlines to secure direct flights to states that have
successfully suppressed the virus so we can help get people back into jobs in
Tasmania and support businesses to recover.

“Quite frankly, it is surprising that after attacking
Labor for suggesting we set a date to reopen borders to safe states, the
Premier has announced he is contemplating opening up all borders, including to
Victoria.

“The Premier accused Labor of playing politics in
calling for a date, only to announce our suggestion the very next day.

“We are simply backing Tasmanian businesses and
workers and we will continue to put the jobs of Tasmanians first.

“Labor’s COVID-19
Recovery Package,
which has been submitted to the Premier’s Economic and Social Recovery Council, is
designed to get people into jobs, help those hardest hit by the pandemic and
create a better, fairer state for everyone.

“I would urge the Premier to look beyond politics and seriously consider Labor’s ideas so that all Tasmanians benefit from our recovery.”

Rebecca White MP

Labor Leader