With Tasmania preparing to reopen its border to interstate travellers next month, the last thing the state's tourism industry needs is a disincentive or any ambiguity around rules and restrictions.
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Once the borders fully reopen on December 15, providing proof of a negative COVID test within 72 hours before travelling to Tasmania will be a requirement for anyone arriving from a high-risk location. It is an eminently sensible measure, and one that will help protect Tasmanian citizens.
On the other hand, suggestions that travellers may have had to fork out $150 for their own PCR tests was only going to deter already wary would-be travellers.
For a family planning an interstate holiday, $150 per person is an impost that could have made those considering travelling to Tasmania reconsider their options.
It is also worth noting that the two most recent positive cases of COVID-19 in Tasmania were from passengers arriving without valid G2G passes. Adding an extra financial impost would do little to encourage visitors from high-risk areas to follow the rules.
Fortunately, common sense has since prevailed, with confirmation that the Commonwealth and state governments have come to a 50-50 cost-sharing agreement to ensure travellers don't bear the burden.
It has taken a bit of political argy-bargy between the Commonwealth and some state leaders to gain clarity around the issue, and it has covered none of those who are slinging the mud with any glory.
It's also a sad reflection of how far some relationships within the National Cabinet have deteriorated since the unified "we're all in this together" message that was being projected at the start of the pandemic.
Thankfully, our state government has not engaged in the same sort of petty politicking as some jurisdictions and has instead delivered a clear message to impending arrivals that they will be able to get tested for free before leaving their own jurisdictions.
Premier Peter Gutwein has also reassured Tasmanians they will be able to be tested before departing if they are planning a visit to the mainland once travel restrictions ease.
The next federal election is just around the corner, but so is Christmas, which is meant to be the season of peace on Earth, not the time for cheap political point-scoring.
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