- Many were hoping for a travel bubble with safe states
- JobKeeper must be extended beyond September
Peter Gutwein must guarantee ongoing support for the hospitality and tourism sector impacted by the decision to defer opening Tasmania’s borders.
Labor Leader, Rebecca White, said there would be mixed feelings in the community about today’s announcement.
“Labor respects the public health advice and the desire to keep the community safe,” Ms White said.
“However, many businesses and workers were hoping for news of a travel bubble established with safe states so they could begin welcoming tourists back.
“With 17 per cent of Tasmania’s workforce relying on the tourism sector, today’s announcement has left many wondering what this will mean for the survival of their business or their ongoing employment.
“The tourism and hospitality industry will be hardest hit by this decision and the Government must work closer with this sector to ensure businesses are supported and can keep people in jobs. This decision highlights the need for JobKeeper to be extended beyond September.
“Labor is also calling on Peter Gutwein to give more detail about the scope of a review into quarantine exemptions granted for essential workers.
“We want the government to immediately require all essential workers coming into the state to demonstrate they are COVID-19 free before they are granted an exemption from quarantine and to prove that those jobs can’t be done by a Tasmanian.”
Rebecca White MP
Labor Leader
