Table 1.

Timeline of COVID-19 restrictions in Tasmania, and relevant restrictions related to food access and supply (information sourced from: [18–21])

Date	Timeline
2nd March 2020	The Director of Public Health confirmed the first case of coronavirus in Tasmania.
17th March 2020	The Director of Public Health declared a Public Health Emergency for Tasmania.
19th March 2020	The Premier declared a State of Emergency under section 42 of the Emergency Management Act 2006. This included directions related to border restrictions, quarantine requirements and ‘stay at home’ requirements. Non-essential businesses, including food outlets were required to close.
2nd April 2020	The Premier announced additional restrictions, including the closure of farmers markets.
12th April – 1st May 2020	In response to an outbreak additional restrictions were imposed in specific areas of the North-West for 14 days with most retail businesses required to close.
27th April 2020	The Coronavirus Supplement was implemented for people receiving government income support payments (such as pensions and unemployment benefits – called JobSeeker), with a 61% increase in number of Tasmanian residents accessing JobSeeker payments between mid-2019 and mid-2020 as a result of the COVID-19 restrictions [21]. A wage subsidy program was also introduced for those retained by their employers but currently not working (JobKeeper). Figures of the number of JobKeeper recipients is not available.
18th May 2020	Stage One easing of restrictions, which included the opening of small food outlets for up to 10 patrons at a time.
5th June 2020	Stage Two easing of restrictions, which included intrastate travel, the opening of more businesses and food outlets able to seat up to 20 patrons at a time.
17th – 26th June 2020	Stage Three easing of restrictions. Markets, food outlets and food vans were able to open if they could maintain the “one person per 2 square metres” rule. Up to 250 people allowed to gather indoors and 500 outdoors. State borders remained closed to non-essential travellers without quarantine.
28th March 2021	The JobKeeper scheme ended.
31st March 2021	The Coronavirus Supplement was ceased and as a result unemployment (JobSeeker) and age-pension income support payments were reduced to slightly above pre-pandemic levels.