Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan says it would have been “irresponsible” to let more people back into his state on the day he was supposed to ease borders to the rest of the country.
A limited number of people have been allowed back into the state from Saturday, including returning residents, those with family connections, families of approved travellers, those needing urgent medical care or to attend legal proceedings, and people with specialist skills.
It’s anticipated about 6000 people will be return on Saturday following two years of tough border restrictions. They will have to quarantine on arrival.
Mr McGowan said it was a big step forward but conceded “maybe not as big as people have hoped”.
“But its the right step forward for Western Australia at this time,” he said.
“It xjmtzywwould have been irresponsible to have proceeded with our original plan, which was developed for the Delta variant, rather than the faster-spreading Omicron variant.”
The state has already processed about 20,000 passes needed to allow people back into the state.
Last month he backflipped on the planned February 5 border reopening which would have allowed quarantine-free international and interstate travel.
“We’ve struck a balance, you can see why we’re doing this,” Mr McGowan said.
“We just want to save more lives but at the same time providing the opportunity for people to reunite safely.”
Mr McGowan also announced that residents could apply for a $320 payment if they had to isolate while waiting for a PCR result.
The state recorded 26 new infections on Saturday.
Mr McGowan confirmed about 92 per cent of people had received their second vaccine dose, but remained adamant borders would remain tough until a third dose was reached.
With cases expected to climb over the coming weeks, authorities have already introduced a new Covid plan, as well as restrictions.
Mr McGowan this week said outbreaks would become more common after 400 children were forced into quarantine when two teachers and two students at three Perth schools contracted the virus in the first week of Term 1.
“Unfortunately, this is going to increase in the future but that’s the reality,” he told ABC radio on Thursday.
“Over time, the rules will change … we’ll eventually move to seven-day quarantining and in certain circumstances people will still be able to go to school and go to work.
“While we get vaccinations up, caution is the order of the day.”
