WA Omicron lie that has to end

The WA Premier will shortly fly to Sydney. While he’s there, he might like to rein in the more nonsensical comments from his own ministers.

OPINION

Next month Western Australian Premer Mark McGowan will be prised out of his fortress state and forced to travel to Sydney to appear at a court case.

While he is in New South Wales, Mr McGowan might want to look around him, and upon his return, tell his ministers to pull their heads in.

He might want to take that advice himself.

Because even by the standards of WA politicians, not shy of lashings of Covid-19 hyperbole, the comments on Sunday from the state’s health minister were eye-opening – or rather eye rolling.

Justifying WA’s decision to cancel the February 5 reopening for an indefinite period, Amber-Jade Sanderson said the reason was clear to see – just look at what was happening on the other side of the Nullarbor.

“We have, in all but name, lockdowns over east, it’s essentially lockdown by default,” she told reporters.

Except it’s not. Either the desert haze between west and east has obscured Ms Sanderson’s view, or it’s a lie. It’s certainly fearmongering.

WA Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson made the preposterous claim that the Eastern States were in “lockdown”. (Photo by Matt Jelonek/Getty Images)

We know a lockdown in NSW and Victoria. After all, we’ve had plenty of them. There are no lockdowns at present “over east,” neither are there any “essentially lockdowns,” whatever they may be.

There are no 5km limits; no shops have been shut; no cafes told to pivot to takeaway only. Friends and family can still see one another; schools are about to go back; curfews are not a thing.

Indeed the only place in Australia which has anything involving the word “lock” right now is WA which has effectively locked in its own citizens.

For anyone outside of WA, it’s easier right now to fly to Paris than it is to Perth; to have drinks on Fifth Avenue than Freo.

Premier Mark McGowan and his ministers often resort to hyperbole about conditions “over east”. Picture: Matt Jelonek/West Australian.

The east’s non-existent lockdown

Minister Sanderson’s “lockdown” claims were quite rightly demolished online.

People posted images of themselves in Sydney sipping beer and heading to the theatre; at music festivals in Melbourne; on holidays in Brisbane. One person called it “WA propaganda”.

If Ms Sanderson hadn’t read those remarks, she could have turned on the coverage of the Australian Open.

What part of “essentially a lockdown” involves crowds at the tennis cheering on Ash Barty and Nick Kyrgios?

She could also look at the hard numbers. Detailed analysis has indeed found that movement into major east coast CBDs has fallen since Omicron revealed itself. It’s even gone down in Perth a touch.

Sydney in lockdown, apparently. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

Some people have decided to go out less as we navigate through the Omicron peak, and working from home is encouraged. As is happening the world over as people make decisions based on their own circumstances.

But it’s nowhere near the movement drop seen during lockdowns.

Or maybe WA ministers could listen to other premiers?

“NSW is open, there is no doubt,” said Dominic Perrottet on Monday.

“You go out on the weekend, the shops are open, the pubs are open, the restaurants, the bars.”

When asked to respond to WA’s suggestion Victoria was locked down, Premier Daniel Andrews quipped: “I can get our ambassador to talk to theirs if you like,” referencing the almost international-like border.

And Mr Andrews and Ms Sanderson are in the same party.

Crowds at the Australia Open, also apparently in lockdown according to WA ministers. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

The big problem with WA’s hyperbole

Why does the WA health minister’s false characterisation of the situation in the east matter?

Because it’s hyperbole like this that the WA Government is resorting to in justifying its border backflip.

That’s because the decision has seen more push back than the government might have expected.

Sure there’s the usual voices, like businesses, tourism associations and the like.

Then there’s Australian Medical Association president Omar Khorshid – he didn’t hold back either. He said the Premier was a “one trick pony” when it came to border closures and delaying reopening until winter when boosters for the vulnerable have waned could lead to even more cases.

“The idea that we can extend our time in ‘paradise’ without having to face the virus is a fantasy and this has been acknowledged by the Premier in the past. Hence my shock/disappointment.”

The state’s main newspaper, the West Australian put it simply saying the opening flip flop was “not good enough”.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews was sceptical of WA’s claims. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

So, as the grounds for closing the borders becomes ever shakier, the rhetoric of what’s happening “over east” becomes ever more exaggerated to overcome the broken promises.

Premier McGowan had said only a “catastrophe” would stop the February 5 date.

On Friday, with his characteristic lack of restraint, Mr McGowan proclaimed “what’s going on in the eastern states is both an emergency and a catastrophe”.

There is no doubt hospitals are under pressure – although ICU presentations and hospitalisations are notably lower than NSW Health had expected according to its own modelling.

And it’s a tragedy that people have died of Covid-19 and that families are in mourning.

Countries around the world – some with tough borders, others with high vaccination rates – are experiencing the same. But there are also promising signs the Omicron peak has been reached.

There may be fewer people out and about, but it’s not anywhere near lockdown levels. Picture: Rowena Ryan

The catastrophe for WA

A catastrophe for Western Australians is they are being ill prepared by their government for the reality of Covid-19 in their community. That their remarkable Covid-free bubble will burst.

Indeed the borders may already be pointless given the current Omicron outbreak in Perth.

The WA Government could be telling its residents about what Covid-19 in the population will mean in a calm manner.

That many people will get Covid-19; a few will get sick and a very small proportion of those, often those who are unvaccinated, will die.

That the population density of Perth – lower than most capitals – means it may not be in the same boat as Sydney and Melbourne. That sensible precautions may be needed but everyday activities will continue, as demonstrated by – ta-dah!- the east.

Ministers could reassure people that the state’s health system will cope with rising Covid cases – if indeed that’s the case.

Hospitals are under pressure in the east. But so far, ICU and hospitalisation capacity remain in check. (Photo by Jenny Evans/Getty Images)

But that’s not what’s happening. Day in, day out, Western Australians are being warned darkly of the dangers of the east, as if we’re living in a real life 28 Days Later of scorched cities and the zombie-like infected pacing the streets.

If the WA government wants to shut up shop for the next few weeks or months – go for it. Do what you think is right.

But justify it properly and honestly without resorting to scare stories designed to frighten people into submission.

And quit with the nonsense about the east being “essentially in lockdown”.

There’s no lockdown over east, but there is a locked in state over west.