Mirage News: Tasmania: Thursday, 23 July 2020.
Shadow Minister for Building
and Construction, Jen Butler, said the government has avoided explaining to
Tasmanians how it is deciding who is deemed an essential worker.
“When the government failed
to answer questions on what constitutes an essential worker, Labor sought the
information under RTI legislation,” Ms Butler said.
“The government ignored the
RTI request and failed to meet the legislated deadline, but when the matter was
referred to the ombudsman, they were directed to respond.
“Finally, we have received a
response, but all it reveals is more secrecy from the Liberals, stating that it
would be a ‘substantial and unreasonable diversion of resources’ to provide
information regarding who is deemed an essential worker.
“To be
clear, this information relates directly to the safety of all Tasmanians during
the pandemic.
“For the
government to say it is unreasonable to provide information about interstate
workers coming to the state, taking Tasmanian jobs and potentially putting
Tasmanians’ lives at risk is arrogant and secretive. It also raises questions
about how the government is tracking these workers.
“Given
that thousands of people have received exemptions from otherwise mandatory
quarantine requirements during a pandemic that is far from over, the government
should have ready access to this information.
“Tasmanians
deserve to know how hundreds of exemptions were granted for interstate tradies
when over 1,200 local tradies have lost their jobs since the start of COVID-19.
“Essential
worker exemptions should only be granted in exceptional circumstances when it
is proven that a Tasmanian can’t do the job.
“This
whole process stinks of a cover-up. The government needs to explain who they
have let in and why. Tasmanians deserve answers.”
Jen
Butler MP (Shadow Minister for Building and Construction)
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