Mark McGowan lashes feds over border speculation

Mark McGowan accused Greg Hunt of ‘making things up’ after he hinted WA could bring its reopening date forward in time for the Ashes.

WA Premier Mark McGowan. Picture Jackson Flindell The West Australian

Mark McGowan has furiously­ ­denied Health Minister Greg Hunt’s suggestion that the West Australian government may open its border earlier than planned so it could host tourists for the Ashes Test in Perth.

The West Australian Premier accused Mr Hunt of “making things up” as he vowed to retain his policy of keeping the border closed until the vaccination rates in the state were above 90 per cent.

“I’ve never met Greg Hunt,” he said. “I’ve never spoken to Greg Hunt. I wouldn’t know him if I met him. He’s got a very vivid imagination.

“He hasn’t spoken to the (WA) Health Minister. I just urge the commonwealth to stop making things up.”

On Sunday, Mr Hunt said he wanted to see WA open its border “as soon as possible” and suggested Mr McGowan was being influenced by the Ashes Test to be played in Perth from January 14.

Mr McGowan’s 90 per cent threshold is not expected to be achieved until late January or February.

“We are hearing they are considering bringing that forward to, well, coincidently, time with the cricket,” Mr Hunt told ABC’s ­Insiders.

“I want to see a Perth Test – fast, hard, bouncy wicket, last Test of the Ashes, gives us our best chance.

“But above all else, I want to see not just cricketers but children reuniting with parents.”

Mr McGowan also said the federal government had been “difficult” during Covid-19, “always trying to be very adventurous and unsafe whereas we have been very cautious,” he said.

He urged people to “stay the course” and warned that hundreds of people could lose their lives if WA opened up to other states too early.

He also did not confirm speculation that cricket players would be able to enter the state and undergo a five-day quarantine stint, despite some Western Australians being locked out of their home state.

A spokesman for Mr Hunt said the commonwealth hoped WA families would have the same treatment and access as ­cricketers.

“Given that cricketers will be allowed in, which we support, we would hope the same rules and compassion are shown to children, cardiac patients and cancer patients at the same time,” he said.

“If children, cardiac patients and cancer patients are to be ­delayed re-entry to WA, beyond the time cricketers can arrive and beyond the projected mid-January 90 per cent figure, that would be deeply disappointing for the many families wishing to reunite with loved ones from interstate.”

WA was on track to hit the 70 per cent double-vaccination milestone by Monday, but its coverage is lagging behind Delta-hit jurisdictions.

Scott Morrison last week said keeping state borders shut beyond 80 per cent would do “more harm than good” as he urged WA to stick to the national reopening plan.

The reopening plan, underpinned by modelling by the ­Doherty Institute, states that once the 80 per cent double-dose coverage is reached, vaccinated Australians should be exempt from all domestic restrictions.

Mr McGowan has argued that the federal government should be applauding the success of the state, saying its strict pandemic management strategy has saved the Australian economy during Covid-19.