WA Premier hits back at Morrison government’s ‘constant carping’ during pandemic

The WA Premier has hit out at Scott Morrison’s government for their ‘constant carping’ about how the state has handled the coronavirus pandemic.

Premier Mark McGowan has hit out at the Morrison government for their “constant carping and criticism” of WA’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

WA has shut itself off from South Australia following an outbreak of the virus, but Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt insists that decision is “inconsistent” with medical advice, as he urged states to consider enhanced screening as an alternative.

“This constant carping and criticism from the federal government is getting tiresome,” Mr McGowan told reporters on Tuesday.

“We support them on the international border. How about they support us on the interstate border?

“I just urge the commonwealth government to understand states have to do what we have to do to protect the health of our citizens, and they should stop being critical and undermining, as they do all the time.”

While complaining about the commonwealth, Mr McGowan also expressed frustration with some commentators in the eastern states.

“I just sometimes think they don’t get it,” he said.

“They haven’t been here, they haven’t seen how well our state is doing, they don’t appreciate all the revenue we give them, and so therefore they constantly try to undermine and criticise.”

The Premier said WA’s border restrictions had been “verified by the Federal Court and High Court as being effective and lawful”.

WA Premier Mark McGowan says the federal government’s ‘constant carping’ is getting tiresome. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Mr McGowan also threw his support behind the SA government’s new restrictions, saying the state had done the right thing.

“What we all learnt from Victoria is that these measures work and it’s far better to eliminate the virus using these measures, rather than use the American technique, which is to let it rip,” he said.

“What the South Australian Premier has done will save lives, it will ensure that over time they can eliminate the virus and the entire country will be better off.”

Mr McGowan said the actions of the commonwealth during Victoria’s outbreak was “pretty outrageous”.

“Some of those ministers — Mr Fyrdenberg and some of those characters — they're behaviour was appalling,” Mr McGowan said.

“Dan Andrews did what he had to do ... and the fact they undermined, criticised attacked the whole way along during a period of extreme pressure was appalling.

“Steven Marshall has done the right thing and I support him in what he’s doing. I urge everyone to support him.”

Asked if he would do the same if there was an outbreak in WA, the Premier said it was the “right template” to deal with an outbreak.

“If that were to happen here, that sort of model is what we’d be looking at,” he said.

Restrictions similar to those in SA would likely be introduced in WA if there was a local outbreak of COVID-19.

Mr McGowan also flagged the possibility that the WA border with SA could remain closed beyond Christmas, as he revealed what it would take for WA’s hard border to be reinstated for all jurisdictions.

“If we get a similar circumstance in other states, as has happened in Adelaide, then we’ll put up the hard border to the other states,” he said.

“One case somewhere may not result in a hard border. An outbreak of 15 or 20 will result in a hard border. It just depends upon the circumstances.”

About 480 people arrived in WA from SA on Monday via road and air.

WA recorded no new cases of the virus overnight, leaving 12 active cases who are all in hotel quarantine.