Billionaires Gina Rinehart and Chris Ellison strongly pushed for WA’s continued isolation, while BHP and Rio Tinto are also believed to have been supportive.
Mark McGowan had an unlikely industry ally when he stunned West Australians as well as the rest of the country last week by unexpectedly announcing he had abandoned February 5 as an opening date for the state.
Most of the major players in the powerful iron ore sector, with the exception of Fortescue Metals Group chief executive Elizabeth Gaines, actually backed keeping the WA border shut to try to ward off omicron.
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Jennifer Hewett is the national affairs columnist. She writes a daily column on politics, business and the economy. Connect with Jennifer on Twitter. Email Jennifer at jennifer.hewett@afr.com
