Labor has called on the government to release the public health advice it’s relying on to guide decisions about how Tasmania will move into recovery from COVID-19.
Labor Leader Rebecca White said Tasmanians will support tough decisions taken by government, but only if they can see the basis for those decisions.
“In the midst of the crisis Tasmanians followed public health advice incredibly well, but what the government needs to demonstrate now is that they have a plan for recovery, and they need to explain what information they will use to inform their decisions.
“The government is making decisions every day that are impacting people’s lives and livelihoods. People are unable to see their families, including FIFO workers who live here, and many businesses are on their knees.
“It’s appropriate for the government to be scrutinised for its decision making and for there to be complete transparency around these big decisions that are affecting people’s lives and livelihoods.
“There is a level of fear and anxiety in the community, but instead of addressing that by demonstrating a clear, evidence-based plan for recovery, the government is responding in a way that unfortunately feeds the cycle of fear.
“Labor has backed the government on tough decisions it has had to make to keep Tasmanians safe, because Peter Gutwein told us those decisions were based on public health advice.
“The government has an obligation to explain why it is making decisions, share the modelling or evidence that supports those decisions, and not hide behind the Premier’s standard response that his decisions are based on public health advice.
“In the latest update from the Premier he tells Tasmanians to ignore advice from Public Health that there’s a 1-in-10-million chance of the virus coming here from outside hotspots, yet he expects Tasmanians to accept all other advice without question. That’s no way to build public confidence.”
Rebecca White
Labor Leader
