Businesses groups urge McGowan to ‘stick to the plan’ to reopen Australia

Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan says his state will not tolerate any Covid-19 cases or deaths.

West Australia Premier Mark McGowan. Picture: Colin Murty

West Australia Premier Mark McGowan’s declaration that he reserves the right to impose border restrictions and lockdowns even when an 80 per cent vaccination rate is reached has angered business leaders.

Mr McGowan doubled down on his eradication approach at the weekend, saying his state would not tolerate any Covid-19 cases or deaths.

He also signalled he would mandate vaccinations in some sectors such as the mining and port industries.

His statement puts him at odds with Scott Morrison, who said there would be no requirement to make Covid-19 jabs compulsory unless governments’ health advisers advocated for a mandate in a specific industry.

Mr McGowan’s comments on an elimination strategy come just weeks after national cabinet agreed to a plan that Australia would open up when 80 per cent of the eligible population was fully vaccinated. The plan, based on Doherty Institute modelling, outlined that at an 80 per cent target, lockdowns would almost entirely end and international travel would restart.

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Andrew McKellar said the nation’s business sector was desperate for a nationally consistent approach for reopening the country. “We would really urge all leaders to stick to the plan and not pre-empt the situation that we may face in two or three months time. ” he said.

Mr McKellar said the primary focus should be boosting the vaccination rate, with only 25 per cent of eligible Australians fully vaccinated against Covid-19. “That’s the message business is looking for – that people have to get vaccinated,” he said. “It’s the right thing to do and the best thing if you want to be able to go about your everyday life.”

Business Council of Australia chief executive Jennifer Westacott said an elimination strategy was “simply unrealistic” if the ­nation wanted to return to normality. “It’s critical we tie greater freedoms to vaccination,” she said. “We can’t have premiers saying an 80 per cent vaccination target will be meaningless. What is the purpose of national cabinet’s decision and the Doherty modelling, which gave very clear milestones?”

Mr McGowan said states retained the right to put in place border restrictions and lockdowns but they would be eased once the vaccination rate increased. “When you get to 70, perhaps 80, if there is a lockdown it might be a lesser area rather than the entire metropolitan area. It might be a country town rather than an entire region,” he said.

Mr McGowan also predicted WA would have a “strong border” in place with NSW until the end of the year and could maintain border restrictions with the state even after it passed its 80 per cent threshold. “When they get down to zero or minimal spread, then we can look forward to opening the border,” he said.