The Liberal Government commends the professionalism and hard work of Tasmania's emergency services personnel, career and volunteer, who are responding to the wild weather conditions currently gripping the state.
The Government is receiving regular updates on the damage being reported from high winds and rising flood waters around the state.
I urge all Tasmanians to reconsider travel in the current conditions and to keep up to date with the latest warnings from authorities, with several roads, rail lines and schools being closed, ships unable to dock and thousands of homes and businesses without power supply.
I have been advised a person has died as a result of being hit by a falling tree in the north of the state and my thoughts and prayers go out to the family of that person.
At times such as these, we stand behind our SES volunteers, our TasNetworks crews and our emergency services personnel, all of whom are doing tremendous work in very difficult conditions.
This is not a time for sight-seeing. Rising flood waters, wind-borne roofing materials and trees that have been weakened in sodden ground all present real risks for the public at this time.
I urge Tasmanians to tune in to ABC local radio for updates on conditions and to check the following websites:
www.tasnetworks.com.au/your-property/outages/current-power-outages