The Western Australia Government has announced a temporary closing of its interstate border will come into effect from midnight on Sunday, 5 April 2020.
WA had previously permitted people to enter the state provided they self-isolated for 14 days. The new rules will mean that all visitors will be turned away unless they meet exemption criteria.
The Premier of Western Australia, Mr Mark McGowan, said there would be some very limited exemptions to the border closures, including:
- Healthcare workers
- Emergency services workers
- Transport freight and logistics
- People with specialist skills not available in WA
- National or state security and governance, and
- Courts and judicial services
- Specific compassionate grounds
Mr McGowan said FIFO (fly in/fly out) workers and their families would be exempt but would be required to self isolate for 14 days after entering WA.
“WA is in a unique position, our isolation is our best defence, and we need to use it to our advantage,” Mr. McGowan said.
“While our overall numbers are encouraging, we need to take further steps to protect our state.
“In effect we’ll be turning Western Australia into an island within an island — our own country.”
Mr McGowan also called on Western Australian residents to ‘come home now.’ He said, “I cannot stress that enough.”
Airlines will not be permitted to allow non-West Australians to board flights into the state, exempt where they meet exemption criteria.
Perth, WA/westernaustralia.com
