‘Considering it’: Controversy as WA’s border could open in time for fifth Ashes test

Western Australia’s border is not due to open until it reaches a 90 per cent vaccination target. But one big event could change that.

Western Australia’s borders could open to the rest of the country in the first few weeks of 2022, significantly earlier than planned.

Federal health minister Greg Hunt flagged the change during a television appearance on Sunday morning.

“We’d like to see Western Australia open as soon as possible,” he told ABC’s Insiders host David Speers.

“We are hearing that they are considering bringing that forward to at least, well, coincidentally, to time with the cricket.”

When should Western Australia open its border?

"We are hearing that they are considering bringing that forward to at least... Well, coincidently, to time with the cricket - we'll let them determine it," @GregHuntMP says.#Insiders#auspolpic.twitter.com/oqBbfUCkga

— Insiders ABC (@InsidersABC) November 13, 2021

WA premier Mark McGowan has previously said the state would not open its borders until it had reached a 90 per cent vaccination target, which is expected sometime in 2022.

However, the fifth and final Ashes test is slated to be held in Perth from mid-January.

Mr Hunt’s speculation comes just 48 hours after Mr McGowan was slammed for his double standards when it came to the Australian and English cricket teams.

The government plans to allow the players to spend just five days in quarantine, so the test can go ahead as planned.

Mark McGowan is facing mounting pressure to open WA’s border. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Sharon Smith

Anyone else wanting to enter the state currently has to apply for a pass and then spend 14 days in hotel quarantine, at their own expense.

Mr Hunt said while ultimately the WA government would determine when it opened its borders, he wanted to see it occur as soon as possible.

“I want to see not just cricketers, but children reuniting with parents,” he said.

“I want the same rules for children and cancer and cardiac patients, as for cricketers.”

Originally published as ‘Considering it’: Controversy as WA’s border could open in time for fifth Ashes test