Further measures to keep Tasmanians safe

Peter Gutwein,Premier

Our number one priority is to keep Tasmanians safe and secure.

The best way to do this is by staying home and saving lives.

While our plan to stop the spread of coronavirus is fast-moving and responsive, I understand the need to provide as much certainty as we can during this time.

I am also conscious of the need to effectively balance Tasmania’s health, social and economic impacts as we continue to face the challenges of COVID-19.

Today, I am announcing further steps to help stop the spread of the virus and provide clarity for individuals, families and businesses moving forward.

Effective immediately, racing will cease. While many industry participants will be eligible for federal and state support, Tasracing will announce further measures to assist industry participants in the coming days, with a strong focus on the welfare of racing animals.

While race and trial meetings will be cancelled for at least the next four weeks, those industry participants who are responsible for the welfare of racing animals will be able to continue their important work.

This includes veterinarians, farriers, those who feed the racing animals, and those who keep them in work in order to keep them fit and healthy.

From 6pm Friday 3 April 2020 the following will be prohibited from operating:

  • Farmers Markets -markets can continue to operate for the purpose of selling fresh food or produce only, to be consumed at home. The markets will need to adhere to stringent social distancing measures, both in their configuration and good customer hygiene. Mobile food vans cannot operate on site at these markets, however they can continue to operate off site, including emergency relief food vans.
  • Recreational Scalloping – while some types of recreational fishing are allowed, the opening of the scallop season has traditionally meant many hundreds of boats with recreational divers travelling around the state. In many cases, Tasmania’s coastal communities are small and are the place of choice for many of our older, retired community, and we have already made it clear we need to do all we can to protect these communities from the spread of coronavirus. There is no intention to close any forms of commercial fishing.

Other changes include prohibiting garage sales, sex worker services and closing TAB and UBET stores.

National Cabinet will meet tomorrow and we will discuss amongst other things, the need to consider other restrictions to further reduce incentives for people to leave their homes.

/Public Release. View in full here.