Tasmania in no rush to allow cruise ships
Ethan James |
Tasmania is in no hurry to welcome back international cruise ships despite the imminent ending of a federal government ban on the giant liners.
A ban on the vessels entering Australia, in place since March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, will be lifted from April 17.
New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland have outlined virus testing and vaccination requirements for passengers and crew as they prepare for the ships to return.
Tasmanian Liberal MP Roger Jaensch says the island state government “will make its own decisions” on when large cruisers will be allowed back in.
Small cruise ships carrying no more than 99 passengers have been permitted to dock in Tasmania since December 15, provided they start and finish their trip in the state.
“The matter of larger cruise ships is something which will continue to be under review and public health advice,” Mr Jaensch told reporters on Wednesday.
“We are in no hurry to reverse that. And we’ll only do so when we’ve got very clear advice that that is in the best interest of Tasmania.”
A deadly virus outbreak in the state’s northwest at the beginning of the pandemic was started by infected passengers returning from the Ruby Princess cruise ship that docked in Sydney.
Tasmania recorded three deaths on Wednesday, a record since borders reopened in mid-December.
There were 1839 new cases, a decrease of some 200 from the 24 hours prior. There are 48 people in hospital, with one in intensive care.
AAP
