Business groups have criticised West Australian Premier Mark McGowan for keeping his state sealed off from NSW, Victoria and the world for a further three months, warning it will hurt tourism providers over the summer peak and continue to starve the state of skilled workers.

In the latest deviation from the national cabinet’s reopening plan, Mr McGowan said he would not ease border controls until the state’s fully vaccinated rate hit 90 per cent for people older than 12, which WA health officials forecast will be sometime in late January or early February.