Prime Minister says WA ‘doing more harm than good’ with border reopening plan

Prime Minister Scott Morrison unloaded on Western Australia and its premier Mark McGowan after the state pledged to maintain a strict border.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has savaged Western Australia and its Premier Mark McGowan for “putting a price on Australians” and says the state is doing more harm than good by keeping its border closed into 2022.

Mr McGowan on Friday announced he would not completely open the state’s border until 90 per cent of the population aged over 12 were fully vaccinated, meaning it could be late January or early February before it opens up completely.

That flies in the face of a national reopening plan which models the reopening of state borders once a 80 per cent double-dose target is hit, and Mr Morrison isn’t happy.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has lashed Western Australia’s border reopening plan. Photo by Alastair Grant/Getty Images)

“When you look at the curve of the pandemic, once you hit 80 per cent, whether it’s a low number of cases you’re going into like would be the case in Western Australia, or a high number of cases like we’ve seen in New South Wales and Victoria … there is a scientifically backed-in proposition, which is that you can take the next step,” Mr Morrison told reporters.

“And the advice we have from the Secretary of Treasury … is once you go over 80 per cent and you keep things locked down, you are doing more harm than good to your economy.

“You are actually putting a price on Australians, when you continue to put heavy restrictions on your economy, once you get 80 per cent vaccination rates.”

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has flagged a 90 per cent double-dose target will need to be reached before the state fully eases restrictions. Photo by Matt Jelonek/Getty Images

Western Australia has been tough on borders throughout the pandemic and as a result has had very little coronavirus cases.

But Mr McGowan has also faced a barrage of criticism for his tough Covid stance.

Borders are currently open to people from Queensland, Northern Territory, South Australia and Tasmania, but visitors from New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT remain locked out.

As it stands, Western Australia’s 90 per cent target means it will be the last jurisdiction to fully ease border restrictions – with Queensland and Northern Territory set to open up before it does.