Explosive revelations have emerged in Budget Estimates that Biosecurity Tasmania staff identified the risk of passengers from the Ruby Princess entering Tasmania but were told to allow them in without quarantine.
In scenes alarmingly reminiscent of the Victorian hotel quarantine debacle, it is unclear who made the final decision, with multiple Ministers and agencies passing the buck.
The Premier, Peter Gutwein, has previously identified the Ruby Princess as ground zero for the outbreak of COVID-19 in Tasmania that ultimately claimed 13 lives.
Shadow Minister for Primary Industries, Shane Broad, said the Liberal Government had not been honest with Tasmanians about the clear breakdown in decision making that led to the outbreak.
“It is clear that biosecurity officers did their job in identifying the risk of Ruby Princess passengers entering Tasmania without quarantine on or around 19 March,” Dr Broad said.
“The passengers were held in an airlock at the airport while advice was sought on what action to take.
“Ultimately the call was made to allow the passengers to disembark. They were not given PPE, they were not health checked and they were not required to quarantine.
“No one is taking responsibility for the decision. In Budget Estimates this morning the minister responsible for Biosecurity Tasmania, Guy Barnett, attempted to wash his hands of the issue.
“This is a monumental stuff up and Tasmanians deserve to know how the decision was made and who made the final call.”
The incident occurred after Tasmania had banned all cruise ships from entering Tasmania.
It occurred after the declaration of a Public Health Emergency.
And it came after the Federal Government mandated that international arrivals self-isolate for 14 days.
“If this matter was handled differently – if the instincts of Biosecurity Tasmania staff on the frontline had been trusted – then it is possible that the North West outbreak may never have happened and 13 Tasmanians could still be alive today.”
Shane Broad MP
Labor Shadow Minister for Primary Industries
