Wesfarmers urges WA to ensure solid track and trace abilities

The Perth-based owner of Bunnings, Officeworks, Target, and Kmart says it is crucial to minimise the harm of future lockdowns to businesses and families.

Bunnings Picture: AAP

Wesfarmers sees the latest lockdown in Western Australia as an “opportunity” for the state ­government to test the quality of its ­track-and-trace systems in the wake of the shock five-day lockdown caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Perth-based conglomerate and owner of retail chains such as Bunnings, Officeworks, Target, Kmart and a string of resources and chemicals investments, has raised the prospect that further outbreaks of the coronavirus were likely and that it was crucial the state government use this time to prepare so as to minimise the harm of future lockdowns to businesses and families.

“Wesfarmers encourages everyone in the lockdown zones in Western Australia to comply with government and health directives so that our home state can emerge from this as soon as possible,’’ a statement from Wesfarmers provided to The Australian on Monday afternoon said.

But there was also a note of caution that systems in place to track and trace people infected with COVID-19 needed to be updated and improved given the high likelihood of future coronavirus outbreaks in the state that until now hadn’t had community transmission for 10 months.

Wesfarmers is Western Australia’s biggest non-mining company, with its head office in Perth’s key business district along St Georges Terrace.

“Given the likelihood of further outbreaks in the months ahead, this is an important opportunity for WA to test its track-and-trace and COVID-safe operating practices to minimise the spread of COVID and reduce the harm on families and business from sustained lockdowns,” Wesfarmers said.

“This requires a high degree of commitment and co-operation across government, business and the public.”

It comes as other corporate leaders wade into the contentious issue around lockdowns and placing a headlock around the Australian economy, with Mark Hooper, chief executive of Sigma Healthcare — Australia’s biggest pharmaceutical wholesaler and owner of the Amcal, Guardian and other chemist brands — warning of the economic consequences.

“Far be it for me to tell the medical experts what they should or shouldn’t do. I do think, if you look around the country, the approach that NSW has taken, given they take the bulk of international visitors as well, has been more of a balance between making sure that we act promptly to try and contain the virus and also trying to minimise the economic impact,” he told The Australian.

“I get why WA might want to react quickly because they have had a pretty good run to date, but there is an enormous economic impact when you shut everything down. In that context, NSW has perhaps shown that there is a model that does have some balance. Maybe that’s a better way to do it, but ultimately you have got to be guided by the medical ­experts.”

Casino operator Crown Resorts says it will close gaming, food and beverage, banqueting and conference facilities, other than provision of takeaway meals at Crown Perth, after the Western Australia government announced the lockdown of the Perth metropolitan area. The restrictions will last until February 5, Crown said.

However, Crown said hotel accommodation would continue to be provided in a reduced capacity. The casino operator said it would continue to work closely with the relevant authorities in Western Australia and would respond to measures taken by the state government in relation to COVID-19.

The move comes at a critical time for Crown, with the NSW Gaming Regulator set to release the outcome of an inquiry into its suitability to hold a gaming licence in NSW within the next two weeks.

On Sunday, Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan announced that a security guard working at a quarantine hotel had contracted COVID-19, and possibly had been infected with the highly contagious British or South African strain, and that the whole of Perth and the Peel region south of the city would go into a five-day lockdown from that night.

The Wesfarmers group employs about 13,800 people in Western Australia, the vast majority of whom are in the affected zones.

AAP Image/Tony McDonough

It sparked immediate panic shopping at the supermarket and other retailers, with businesses also thrown into chaos as they were encouraged to send workers home and cancel events.

Stores such as Bunnings can remain open, as well as other essential services.

“Our retail businesses will remain open to customers to provide essential goods and services for people in lockdown, and will operate in a COVID-safe way,” Wesfarmers said on Monday.

“We encourage all customers to abide by government requirements while shopping and request everyone be patient and respect our team members. We also encourage customers to use the facilities that are available to make their visits as quick as possible such as click and collect and the Bunnings Product Finder app.

“At Wesfarmers, those who can work from home are doing so as of 6pm on Sunday.

“Our businesses have advised team members who have attended the nominated contact locations during the nominated times not to come to work until they have been tested and received a negative result.”

The Australian Retailers Association said it was “deeply concerned” by the Western Australia government’s failure to consult ­affected businesses on their recent round of COVID-19 restrictions, and that businesses couldn’t shut and reopen at the flick of a switch.

ARA chief executive Paul Zahra said Perth’s lockdown without notice, coupled with a mandatory imposition of QR codes on all retail business without consultation, demonstrated a lack of respect for the impact of those decisions on the West Australian business community.