TOUGH new measures aimed at halting the spread of coronavirus into Tasmania should have minimal impact upon trade, industry says.
Premier Peter Gutwein has announced the “toughest border measures in the country” to prevent the spread of coronavirus, with all “non-essential” travellers required to self-isolate for 14 days.
The new measures will attract a penalty of up to $16,800 or six months in jail
A state of emergency has been declared.
From midnight on Friday, all “non-essential” travellers into the state will have to go into 14 days’ quarantine, he said.
Mr Gutwein said “essential” travellers included those required to keep the state’s health system and trade operational.
All others, including returning Tasmanians, will be required to go into quarantine.
Tasmanian Freight and Logistics Forum chairman Brett Charlton said freight was considered an essential service meaning it would be unimpeded by new rules and in fact container volumes had increased following the recent Toll Group industrial dispute.
“Transport operators and Bass Strait carriers have had a high level of collaboration with government,” Mr Charlton said.
He said it was important for TT-Line to continue to operate as a freight service even when passenger numbers decline and he understood that would be the case. “Industry is very much engaged,” he said.
