WA government’s Covid response, including border closures, to be probed

The McGowan government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, including brutal border closures for interstate travellers, will be examined in a new review.

Independent experts have been appointed to scrutinise the Western Australian government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The inquiry will scrutinise the state’s weeks of lockdowns, mask wearing rules, mandatory Covid testing, as well as hard border closures which provoked legal challenges from Queensland mining magnate Clive Palmer.

The three experts who will conduct the review are former WA Liberal Health Minister John Day, as well as Emeritus Professor Margaret Seares AO, and Dr Michael Schaper.

Like his state counterparts across Australia, WA Premier Mark McGowan’s leadership was put to the test by the pandemic.

Mr Day was the state’s Health Minister a total of 12 years, first under Premier Richard Court, and again under Colin Barnett.

The trio will be tasked with examining the McGowan government’s pandemic plans and preparedness; programs like testing, free Rapid Antigen Tests, and the vaccination rollout; intragovernmental communication and co-operation; community support and engagement; and effectiveness of public health measures — including the border closure — on health outcomes.

“Unlike other states, Western Australians spent just 12 days in lockdown following the height of the pandemic in April 2020,” said Premier Mark McGowan on Thursday, who attributes the relatively mild Covid impacts in WA to “following the health advice.”

A line of people at Royal Perth Hospital awaiting Covid testing, just one of dozens of testing sites across the Perth metro area.

During the lockdowns, Perth residents were ordered to stay indoors, aside from essential travel and an hour of outdoor activity while masked every day.

But it was the hard border closure that drew the most criticism, with interstate and overseas travellers barred from entering Western Australia without a valid exemption.

The closure, under the state’s Emergency Management Act, was upheld by the High Court when challenged by Queensland’s Clive Palmer in February 2021.

And as Covid vaccinations became widely available, a mandatory vaccination policy was enacted for large swathes of public service workers, prompting some people to quit their jobs rather than get the jab.

WA’s Chief Medical Officer Andrew Robertson provided updates to the media throughout the pandemic.

“I have asked the independent and highly qualified reviewers to assess the best evidence and evaluate what worked, consider our preparedness for the future, and look at the economic, social and health outcomes of our response and management,” said Mr McGowan.

Despite being touted as independent, they’re not entirely removed from the WA Government.

Mr Day is currently the Chairman of the Board of the State Library of WA, and a board member of the Art Gallery of WA; Professor Seares is currently an independent reviewer for the State Government‘s Agency Capability Review Program; and Dr Schaper is a Board Member of the Gaming & Wagering Commission of WA, and Chair of the Board of Energy and Water Ombudsman WA.

“Consultation with public sector agencies and other stakeholders, including peak industry and community organisations, will be a critical part of the review process,” said WA’s Health Minister, Amber-Jade Sanderson.

A final report is expected in the middle of the year.

Entire planes full of passengers were turned around upon arrival in Perth as lockdowns came into effect while flights were in transit.

Opinion on social media is mixed, with some praising the Premier under a post on his official Facebook page on Thursday morning.

But others remain critical, even with nearly all of the Covid restrictions now lifted.

“This guy. Doubling down on the BS and congratulating himself once again. Amazing,” said one Facebook user.

“Wonder who these review experts are in bed with,” said another, questioning the integrity of the appointees.

But other comments welcomed the move: “Keep doing what you have been doing Covid has not run its course yet my family appreciates it,” said one resident.

The terms of reference for the review will be available online.

At the time of publishing, 880 people in Western Australia have died with Covid since the start of the pandemic.