‘Mandates work’: Mark McGowan says vaccine policy will remain for ‘foreseeable future’
Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan has said the state’s ‘vaccine mandates work’ and couldn’t give a time when they would no longer be needed.
Mark McGowan has defended his government’s Covid-19 vaccination mandates, saying “they work” as Western Australia is set to ease restrictions this week.
The WA Premier said the state’s compulsory vaccination status allowed people to return to their employment sooner and away from hospitals.
But he couldn't say when the mandates would cease.
“The vaccine mandates will remain in place for the foreseeable future,” Mr McGowan told 6PR Radio.
“The vaccine mandates work. We had the worst vaccination rate at the start … so we had to do difficult things.
“Now we have the best health outcomes and highest vaccination rates in Australia, the lowest ICU (figures), and the strongest economy because we’re prepared to do difficult things and I'm prepared to keep doing difficult things to keep those outcomes in place.
“The third dose is pretty high at about 80 per cent but we want to get it higher because what's clear, it keeps people out of hospital and out of ICU.”
Mr McGowan, who is due to leave isolation on Thursday after contracting the virus, the state had achieved the “soft landing” out of the Omicron peak.
He said the hospital and intensive care rates were lower than predicted, allowing for the recently announced restrictions to ease.
“We still urge people to use common sense, if you want to wear a mask, wear a mask, if you’re unwell stay home,” Mr McGowan said.
Western Australia Deputy Police Commissioner Col Blanch said the state’s dedicated Covid-19 operations would cease in coming weeks and was now working with skeleton staff.
Initially, about 450 staff worked in the area but about 99 per cent would be placed back on the front line,
“We had an important job to do for two years. I bring everyone back to 15 March 2020 … I think the community was pretty scared at that time about what Covid was and what it meant for them,” Deputy Commissioner Blanch told 6PR Radio.
“Two years later, there are very different circumstances. I think police are happy to get back to policing.”
Deputy Commissioner Blanch said there were a couple of directions under the State of Emergency Act that were required to remain in place to protect the most vulnerable in the community.
He also encouraged people to continue to wear masks although they would no longer be legally required in all public indoor settings as of 12.01am on Friday.
“How long that lasts for is subject to ongoing health advice and discussion with government but for today it's absolutely required.
“While masks are coming off and the community gets back to normal, it’s still in the community (and) people who have other diseases are really susceptible to serious illness and need to take precautions.”
Under the raft of eased restrictions announced yesterday, Western Australians aged 12 and over will still need to wear masks in aged care and disability care facilities, hospitals, taxis and rideshare, public transport, airports and correction facilities.
A one person per 2 sqm rule will apply while proof of vaccination will no longer need to be shown at businesses, venues or for interstate travellers.
The state‘s G2G pass will also be made redundant.
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