WA to open SA border on Christmas Day as Premier Steven Marshall demands to see health advice saying he’s unsafe to be around
WA will reopen its SA border on Christmas Day, as its Premier says his refusal to be in the same room as Steven Marshall was “overblown”.
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Quarantine-free travel from South Australia to WA will likely start on Christmas Day, the WA Premier says, as he defends his decision to avoid Steven Marshall.
WA’s chief health officer advised Mark McGowan that SA would not reach 28 days with no community cases – the trigger to be a very-low-risk state – until December 24.
Mr McGowan said anyone who arrived from SA before Christmas Day would be required to self-quarantine for 14 days.
Any SA travellers who arrives in WA on Christmas Eve will be stuck in self-quarantine until January 7.
SA has no active coronavirus infections.
SA Premier Steven Marshall called on Mr McGowan to consider opening the WA border to allow families to reunite in time for Christmas.
Mr McGowan defended his decision not to fly to Canberra to attend the first in-person National Cabinet meeting to avoid being in the same room as Mr Marshall, saying he was complying with health advice that would have required he self- quarantine for 14 days on his return to WA.
Mr Marshall demanded on Mr McGowan release the health advice that stopped him from attending the first in-person national cabinet meeting.
“It’s not a snub to national cabinet, it’s nothing against the SA Premier,” Mr McGowan told reporters on Thursday.
In fact, Mr McGowan said he had supported the SA government’s decisions during the state’s recent outbreak.
Asked if he was disappointed Mr Marshall was not returning the support and was instead questioning his logic, Mr McGowan said: “No, not at all … perhaps this issue has been overblown to a degree.”
Mr McGowan made the call over fears he could contract coronavirus from Mr Marshall, despite South Australia recording 12 consecutive days with no new COVID-19 infections.
Health advice also says it is safe to travel to Canberra.
Mr McGowan will appear at the meeting via teleconference.
Mr Marshall said Mr McGowan’s decision to steer clear from him was “extraordinary” and admitted they had not yet spoken about the situation.
“South Australians haven’t been stopped from going to the ACT for a very long time and Western Australians have been going for weeks so you have South Australians and Western Australians mixing over there,” he said on ABC Radio.
“They’re not being prohibited from doing that but for some reason Premier McGowan has formed the opinion that presumably, based on some sort of health advice, he can’t be in the same room as me.
“I think he needs to provide that advice to us and let us know why.”
Mr Marshall said he wanted the borders to open so family and friends could reconnect.
“My thoughts are with people who have been separated from friends and family over in WA and visa versa. I just want to see them get back together … I’m hoping we can move on this really soon.”
Mr McGowan’s spokesman said the Premier was taking a cautious approach.
“While it is safe to travel to Canberra based on our health advice, given the restrictions in place for people who have knowingly mixed with residents of South Australia, it was appropriate that the Premier join the meeting from Perth instead,” the spokesman said.
“The signs are looking good for South Australia, and unless there is a subsequent outbreak, they will move to the ‘low risk’ category from Friday as we have announced.
“Like with all other jurisdictions, South Australia can only become a ‘very low risk’ state once they have recorded at least 28 days of no community cases.
“While these restrictions are in place, it’s important the Premier lead by example and follow the health advice.”
WA is the only state that remains closed to SA, with Mr Marshall gearing up to ask Mr McGowan to consider lifting border restrictions in time for Christmas.
WA’s border controls require anyone who mixes with SA residents to self-quarantine for 14 days on arrival in the west.
“I will certainly be asking the Premier there to consider the excellent results we have here in South Australia,” Mr Marshall said.
“I think there are many people here in our state who have got friends, they’ve got family, they’ve got loved ones in Western Australia – they would love to see them for Christmas.
“We’ve done extraordinarily well. I think it’s time for Western Australia to again consider lifting those restrictions in time for Christmas.”
Originally published as WA to open SA border on Christmas Day as Premier Steven Marshall demands to see health advice saying he’s unsafe to be around
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