COVID-19 border restrictions have created challenges for getting Guide Dog puppies to Tasmania.
Labor Member for Franklin, Alison Standen, said a solution was needed to prevent a looming shortage of adult Guide Dogs for people who are blind and people living with disability.
“Border restrictions, while absolutely necessary, have caused problems for bringing specially bred Guide Dog puppies into Tasmania ,” Ms Standen said.
“Tasmania sources its Guide Dog pups from South Australia. The only airline flying direct to Adelaide at this time is Jetstar and they do not carry unaccompanied animals.
“All other airlines have long connections through Brisbane and Sydney which would cause too much stress for young dogs. Road freight via Melbourne is similarly stressful.
“One solution would be to grant Guide Dog Tasmania staff essential worker status to fly directly to Adelaide, collect the pups at the airport and accompany them on the flight home.
“We would of course be advocating for those staff to be tested on their return, in line with our policy to mandate testing for all essential workers who are exempted from quarantine.
“Without a solution the Tasmanian training program will be put back by 12 months, which means Tasmanians with vision disabilities and those living with a disability would have to wait a year for a dog.
“We hope a common sense solution can be found so Guide Dogs Tasmania can continue to carry out their important work.”
