Premier Mark McGowan’s decision to keep Western Australia’s borders closed indefinitely is being described as a failure of leadership.
West Australians face being trapped indefinitely within their own state after the premier broke his promise to resume travel next month.
Mr McGowan announced the extraordinary backflip during a late-night press conference on Thursday, claiming it would be “reckless and irresponsible” to proceed with the planned February 5 reopening given the surge in Omicron COVID-19 cases across the country.
The premier had promised to reopen the borders once the state’s double-dose vaccination rate reached 90 per cent. It is 89 per cent now.
More compassionate exemptions will be granted from February 5 but those allowed to return for funerals or to see dying relatives still face 14 days in mandatory quarantine.
A fresh reopening date has not been set.
The decision raises serious questions about the government’s lack of preparedness after almost two years of border closures.
WA’s health system has been plagued with issues under the Labor government despite the state recording a $5.6 billion budget surplus last year.
Doctors and nurses have expressed concern hospitals could not handle a surge in COVID-19 cases.
Opposition Leader Mia Davies said the delay had left West Australians separated from loved ones and businesses suffering from acute worker shortages.
“The McGowan government has shifted the goal posts again and provided no clarity for businesses, families and the community on what rules and restrictions might be in place when WA eventually re-opens,” she said.
Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein noted that WA’s double-dose vaccination rate was lagging months behind that of other states.
“I think it’s a failure of vaccination, to be honest,” he said.
The decision has prompted Flight Centre to give fresh consideration to a constitutional challenge against WA’s border closures.
Chief executive Graham Turner told Perth radio 6PR the company’s legal team would look at its options.
From February 5, interstate travellers will be allowed to self-quarantine but must be triple-dose vaccinated if eligible.
International arrivals must enter hotel quarantine for seven days before being allowed to self-quarantine.
Mr McGowan told reporters he was not prepared to risk seeding “thousands upon thousands” of cases into WA.
He said the hard border controls would be further reviewed over the next month.
He insisted the health system was “strong and ready” but said he would like WA’s third dose rate to get as high as 90 per cent.
It sits around 26 per cent, a level comparable with the eastern states.
The premier had said last month the only reason WA wouldn’t reopen its borders on February 5 was if there was an “unforeseen emergency”, such as the emergence of a new deadlier strain or a realisation Omicron was deadlier than anticipated.
He insisted his position had not changed despite WA having just 79 active cases.
“People aren’t going to work (in the eastern states), hospitals are overflowing, hundreds of people are dying … shopping malls are empty,” he said.
“We are doing our best to avoid that.”
Australian Medical Association president Omar Khorshid labelled Mr McGowan a “one trick pony”.
“This decision should be acknowledged as a failure by the WA govt to prepare and a broken promise,” the Perth-based doctor tweeted.
“Omicron is here already and it will cause a significant outbreak in WA soon enough. Sticking our head in the sand won’t make it go away. Let’s prepare!”
Australian Industry Group chief Innes Willox said it was “impossible” to get labour in and out of WA and the decision would severely set back the national economy.
Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said “many people in Western Australia would be disappointed with the decision”.
“Many West Australians will be asking ‘If not now, then when?'” he told the Seven Network.
AAP
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