WA border reopening: Premier Mark McGowan delays February 5 date, suggests new date could link to booster dose

Mark McGowan has hinted at a very high standard for the re-opening of Western Australia’s borders after walking away from his previous commitment.

Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan appears to have set a very high standard for the re-opening of the state’s borders, after a shock backflip late on Thursday night.

Mr McGowan announced about 7.30pm local time the border would not re-open as expected on February 5 but did not set a new date, saying only that it would be considered over the next month.

He claimed the Omicron variant meant it was not safe or responsible to re-open now.

“It would be reckless and irresponsible to open up now. I can’t do it,” he said.

However, in explaining his decision Mr McGowan pointed to the large number of people in WA who were not yet eligible for their boosters, saying getting a third dose was important to tackle Omicron.

“So far, the science shows that people with only two doses of a Covid vaccine have only a 4 per cent protection against being infected by the Omicron variant,” Mr McGowan said. “With a third dose it can provide a 64 per cent protection against infection.

“The aim is to get it [the third dose vaccination rate] up above at least 80 per cent, perhaps 90 per cent,” he said.

In a statement he also added: “A decision on further easing of the new hard border controls will be made in the near future – once the east coast has reached the peak of infection, and we have a better understanding of the true impact of Omicron”.

If the state does decide to wait until at least 80 per cent of its population are triple-vaxxed, this could take quite some time considering just 25.8 per cent of those aged 16 years and over have had a third dose.

WA Premier Mark McGowan has delayed the re-opening of the state’s border. Picture: Matt Jelonek/Getty Images

About 88.9 per cent of residents are double dosed and 94.7 per cent have had one dose.

During his press conference on Thursday night, Mr McGowan apologised for the delay in re-opening the borders and said there would be “enhanced compassionate exemptions” in lieu of a complete reopening.

“If we proceeded with the original plan, we would be deliberately seeding thousands upon thousands of Covid cases into WA and at this point in time that is not what I am going to do,” he said.

“Especially when the science says we need to boost third doses and so many young children still need to get their vaccine.”

NSW Deputy Liberal Leader Stuart Ayres speculated on Friday Mr McGowan had changed his mind about reopening on February 5 as the state’s healthcare system wasn’t adequately prepared for rising cases.

“He has continually kept the border shut because he has underinvested in the health system … we spent the past two years making sure our hospital system is as resourced as possible,” Mr Ayres said.

“We have prepared it to be able to deal with the pandemic, quite clearly Mark McGowan hasn’t and the people of Western Australia are paying the price.”

The front page of tomorrow's The West Australian #auspolpic.twitter.com/bc21H2YdBG

— Anthony De Ceglie (@AnthDeCeglie) January 20, 2022

Mr McGowan said on Thursday he made the choice in a bid to avoid widespread Covid deaths like those seen in the eastern states.

WA has only recorded one death so far from the virus.

“NSW is sadly recording 25 Covid deaths a day,” he said. “Let’s just take a deep breath, acknowledge that it’s very difficult over there, and we’ve got to do our best to avoid that occurring here.”

The Premier of Western Australia, Mark McGowan.

Mr McGowan said the hard border would stay in place on February 5, but travel exemption rules would be relaxed from that date.

“So from 12:01am on Saturday, February 5, the hard border will stay, with new settings that will have a focus on both safety and compassion,” he said.

All entrants will have to self-isolate for 14 days, be triple dose vaccinated, and undertake an onerous testing regime.

International entrants will have to undergo seven days of hotel quarantine and seven days of home quarantine.

In light of what has occurred across the country, having closely assessed the situation over east and listening to the latest health advice, we have reworked WA’s Safe Transition Plan to fit the environment that now confronts us. pic.twitter.com/o7Qb2vRrMU

— Mark McGowan (@MarkMcGowanMP) January 20, 2022

Under the new plan, the following travellers will be permitted to enter WA with testing and quarantine under the expanded exemption criteria:

• Returning WA residents with direct and “legitimate” family connections in the state

• Those returning on compassionate grounds including for funerals, palliative care or terminally ill visitation

• People seeking urgent and essential medical treatment

• People with specialist skills not available in WA

• Commonwealth and state officials, members of parliament, diplomats

• People required to attend court

• Special consideration will be given to people attempting to enter for extraordinary causes.

“As the Prime Minister has said, Omicron has changed everything and right now we don’t know the full picture of what Omicron could mean,” Mr McGowan said.

“There is insufficient data to make meaningful assumptions of what it would look like once Omicron takes full effect and case numbers peak over east, except that we know, because of case numbers, it is a very bad situation.”

Chief Health Officer Dr Andy Robertson said opening up on February 5 would lead to 500-1000 community cases within a couple of days.

WA moved to a “controlled border” at midnight on November 14, 2020, allowing travellers from every jurisdiction except Victoria and NSW to enter without quarantining.

WA Chief Health Officer Dr Andy Robertson.

The decision was met with anger on social media by people who have not seen their families for a long time.

About 6000 interstate and international passengers are due to touch down at Perth Airport on February 5.

“I know this decision will be unpopular with many people as holiday plans and some family gatherings will have been disrupted,” he said. “For that, I’m sorry. I understand exactly what this means for many people who were hoping to reunite without any restrictions.”

what an absolute disgrace. shameful. how can anyone believe a word McGowan says now. it’s been two years. incredibly cruel and absurd. So sorry to those who will remain separated from loved ones, unable to return home, unable to say goodbye to dying loved ones or attend funerals https://t.co/Ve5TOEQZ73

— Shane Bazzi (@shanebazzi) January 20, 2022

I haven’t seen my family in more than 10 months but didn’t book flights home to Perth because I KNEW @MarkMcGowanMP would not stick to the Feb 5th date. He’s had two years to prepare the WA hospital system for Covid. An absolute joke. Embarrassing. Heartless.

— Brendan Crew (@brendancrew) January 20, 2022

The jurisdictions around the world still pursing covid zero:

- China
- Hong Kong
- Western Australia

That is all

— Laura Jayes (@ljayes) January 20, 2022

7:30 timing is no accident for McGowan’s announcement. TV news has already aired, and it’s an entire night before it’s dissected in print and talkback.

— Ben Downie (@Ben_Downie) January 20, 2022

Mr McGowan announced the February 5 plan six weeks ago to coincide with the state reaching the 90 per cent double-dose vaccination milestone.

However WA’s Covid outbreak continues to grow, now reporting five new local Covid cases.

Four of the cases are close contacts, two of whom were in quarantine, with the others potentially infectious in the community.

The source of the final infection is unknown.

There are now 79 active cases in WA, with 23 in hotel quarantine, 56 in self-quarantine and none in hospital.

The Premier’s suspected February 5 backflip comes after growing pressure from doctors and nurses over the Omicron threat.

WA has remained closed to the rest of the country for the majority of the pandemic.