ABC News: Luke Bowden
)The Tasmanian Government has rejected a proposal from NSW to have international students quarantine in hotels in Hobart.
NSW Treasurer Dom Perrottet told a budget estimates hearing in Sydney on Monday that he had held "extensive discussions" with his Tasmanian counterparts about a "potential plan" to have returning international students quarantine in Hobart.
"We have had extensive discussions and I can assure you we will continue to prosecute the case because of the economic impacts of this industry," Mr Perrottet said.
In a statement on Tuesday, Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein confirmed his government had received an approach from NSW.
"At this time, however, we have advised this is not under consideration, with our priority remaining the safe management of seasonal workers entering the state and our own international students when public health advice is that it is safe to do so," Mr Gutwein said.
Tasmania has been free from coronavirus since December, when a family of four returning from overseas tested positive.
There were zero people in hotel quarantine in the state as of Monday night.
ABC News: Luke Bowden
)Hobart mayor Anna Reynolds told ABC Mornings she would not support her city becoming a quarantine hub for other states.
"We've got our own international students who are people that are halfway through their degrees at UTAS that probably want to come back, so if we're going to be developing a program of quarantine for international students why wouldn't we do that for our own international students," she said.
Ms Reynolds added that she believed the hotel quarantine model needed an overhaul.
"Enough's enough — we have to actually find a different solution and facilities that are purpose-built for quarantine, which hotels are not," she said.
"Hotels in CBDs in particular are really unsuited."
Mr Perrottet issued a statement in response to the Tasmanian snub, saying: "I remain committed to finding a way to return this vital industry to NSW and will continue to work constructively with colleagues such as Mr Gutwein to find a solution."
More details about the current COVID measures are available at the Tasmanian Government's coronavirus information website.
