Tasmania reopens travel with Queensland
Tasmania is lifting border restrictions with Queensland but much of Australia's mainland could remain shut out for some time.
The high-risk declarations for southeast Queensland and Cairns will no longer be in place from midnight on Tuesday, Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein says.
People who have visited select high-risk venues in Queensland will still not be allowed entry.
Mr Gutwein said a border closure with NSW would stay in place for the foreseeable future, while the travel ban on Victoria could be in place for up to a month.
The ACT and people who have been in Darwin and Katherine in the Northern Territory are also on Tasmania's banned list amid coronavirus outbreaks.
"While we have no cases in Tasmania, we remain under constant threat," Mr Gutwein said.
Under the state's high-risk border declarations, only essential workers and returning residents are allowed to enter, if they are granted a G2G pass.
Mr Gutwein said those specific arrivals would now have to produce a negative COVID-19 test before departing for Tasmania.
Tasmania has recorded just one case this year, a NSW traveller who tested positive earlier this month while in quarantine.
The state has handed out a handful of fines in recent times for people arriving in defiance of travel bans - a woman in her 70s was slugged $1557 after coming from NSW.
"If you don't follow the rules, we will catch you. You will be fined. If you come from a high-risk jurisdiction, you will be turned around," Mr Gutwein said.
State Public Health Director Mark Veitch said anyone driving through NSW to reach Tasmania would be considered high-risk and not allowed entry.
