Health workers and State security and governance staff are to be exempt from tough new border measures introduced to control the spread of COVID-19 into Western Australia.
Since 5 April, the Western Australia border has been closed to all other States.
Premier, Mark McGowan this week introduced exemptions for health workers, security and governance staff, transport and logistics workers and those with specialist skills not available in WA.
Mr McGowan said there would also be exemptions for fly-in-fly-out workers and their families.
“These new harder border closures essentially mean we will be turning Western Australia into its own island, within an island — our own country,” Mr McGowan said.
“I want the message to be absolutely clear to any Western Australian over east who is thinking of coming to WA,” he said.
“If you are an Eastern-Stater and thinking about visiting WA — forget about it.”
He said people needed to stay where they were during the State of Emergency.
“If we follow the advice, abide by the new rules and practice good social distancing, we can take a different direction to the rest of the country and the rest of the world for that matter,” Mr McGowan said.
“Western Australia is in a unique position – our isolation is now our best defence,” he said.
“We need to use it to the best of our advantage.”
He said those allowed to enter WA under the new exemptions rule would need to follow strict 14-day self-isolation measures upon entry into the State.
