South Australia and Western Australia take economic headstart on eastern states

Low-infection states South Australia and Western Australia set to jumpstart their economies, stealing a march on eastern rivals.

Premier Steven Marshall says reopening South Australia’s economy sooner shows that working in less populous, more liveable cities is a desirable option in a post-pandemic world. Picture: AAP

The low-infection states of South Australia and Western Australia are set to jumpstart their economies this week, stealing a march on the eastern states that continue to plot a more sluggish approach to the reopening of businesses and schools.

Reopening of the states’ economies sooner would demonstrate that working in less populous, more liveable cities was a desirable option in a post-pandemic world, South Australian Premier Steven Marshall told The Australian.

South Australia is poised to lift its ban on intrastate travel within days and encourage residents to stay in beach towns, wine ­regions and at their holiday homes, while Western Australia last week increased permitted gatherings from two people to 10.

“The PM and the national cabinet considered which of the three major approaches we were going to have — eliminate, suppression or control,” Mr Marshall said.

“We decided to go for suppression, but the reality is some jurisdictions in Australia are already well on the way to elimination and SA is one of them.

“There’s a golden time for SA going forward because there is a growing recognition now that being successful doesn’t have to involve sitting on the 62nd floor of an office tower in Sydney or Hong Kong or London.”

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan said the performance of the mining industry and a strong attendance rate at schools left the state in a prime position to lead the nation’s recovery.

Mr McGowan has emerged as the most popular leader in Australia following his impressive performance through the pandemic, and has started approaching business groups and stakeholders to consider a suite of reforms to boost the state.

But while WA and SA move to ease restrictions ahead of schedule, the eastern states continue to adopt a more cautious path.

NSW, Victoria and Queensland stood by their current policies of keeping restrictions in place and adhering to public health advice.

South Australian business leaders are keen to push the button on the state’s economy.

“There is a massive ­silver lining in this otherwise dark cloud for our state,” Mr Marshall said. “We are already regarded as one of the most liveable cities in the world, we are now also one of the safest.”

State Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier announced on Sunday that playgrounds and skate parks would be reopened.

“Looking at the risks involved, and also because we now have our schools back, I thought it was time that we should lift some of the ­restrictions on playgrounds,” Dr Spurrier said.

Western Australia’s restrictions on social gatherings were eased last week, ahead of a full reopening of schools for the start of term two last Wednesday.

Bans on fishing, camping and hiking, as well as boot camps, home opens and picnics were also lifted. The state’s mining industry has operated throughout the crisis unaffected.

Mr McGowan said some of the planning and building laws and ­restrictions needed to change.

“One of the things we will do earlier rather than later is serious reform in that regard,” he told The Australian. “We’ve got to get people with money able to invest more quickly and create jobs and opportunities.”

Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said the government would continue to prioritise the health of its citizens.

She said she was not privy to discussions other ministers were having with industry about the easing of restrictions. “But what I can say is, of course, as you would expect is different industries, different sectors in the economy are having conversations with ministers about what the latest public health advice is and looking at how these sectors could potentially restart,” she said.

A push in Queensland, to lift restrictions on businesses and social ­activities in regional areas was shot down by Health Minister ­Steven Miles on Sunday, who said zonal differences in permissible activity could confuse people and create extra work for police.

“We are hesitant to do that ­because it’s difficult enough to ­ensure everyone is aware of the ­restrictions when they are consistent, statewide,” he said.

Mr Miles said it could be re-­examined if a region went more than two 14-day incubation periods without a new case. A cabal of doctors, civic leaders and businesses in north Queensland has written to the government, asking for the restrictions to be eased.

State and territory leaders will again sit down with Scott Morrison at a national cabinet meeting on Friday, with the national approach to the easing of certain ­restrictions largely dependent on how many Australians have downloaded the CovidSafe app.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said the federal government was “more than a week ahead of where we had hoped to be” on downloads of the app, with over 4.3 million to date. “This has helped bring forward national cabinet consideration of easing restrictions by a week,” he said. “The more Australians who download the app, the more confidence this will provide to the national cabinet that we can address any community outbreaks as we help bring life back towards normal.”

The death toll reached 95 on Sunday following the death of an 83-year old in Western Australia and another person at the Anglicare-run nursing home, Newmarch House, in western Sydney.

Additional reporting: Tessa Akerman, Charlie Peel