3 December 2020
The ADF has responded to a request from the Tasmanian Government for more COVID-19 support by sending Queensland-based Army personnel to Hobart as international arrivals fly in.
Fifty-eight members from Townsville’s 3rd Brigade flew into Hobart on November 30 on board a RAAF KC-30 aircraft to join the Tasmanian ADF contingent.
Commander of Tasmania’s Joint Task Group 629.5 Lieutenant Colonel Darryl Bridgeman said Tasmanian authorities had requested ADF support for the repatriation of Australian citizens and arrival of transient overseas agricultural workers.
“Tasmania is playing its part in the whole-of-government COVID-19 response by providing quarantine at up to three Hobart-area hotels allocated for international arrivals,” he said.
“Additional personnel arrived in Hobart on Monday to boost our local defence force numbers.
“Together they will provide round-the-clock support to Tasmania Police and civilian agencies.”
The first international flight arrived in Tasmania on December 2 carrying seasonal workers from Timor Leste.
On December 6, a chartered repatriation flight direct from Delhi is scheduled to arrive in Hobart with returning Australians on board.
Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein said all international arrivals into Tasmania needed to undertake 14-day mandatory quarantine and routine testing and, as an additional safeguard, travellers must return a negative COVID-19 test result before travelling to Australia.
Tasmania’s Department of Health is the lead agency for infection prevention and control and Tasmania Police is managing and supervising security arrangements 24/7 at the quarantine hotels, supported by the ADF and private security personnel.
