The Minister for Health has foreshadowed the State’s transition to a “safe and sensible controlled interstate border regime” based on advice from the Chief Health Officer.
The Minister, Roger Cook said the existing hard border exemption system would be removed and replaced with an updated nationwide health-based threshold that allowed for safe travel into Western Australia from interstate with conditions, and subject to trigger points being met.
Mr Cook said that from 14 November, Western Australia would enact the new controlled interstate border under the Emergency Management Act.
“The State Government will closely monitor the situation over east and if a delay is necessary, based on the latest public health advice, then that will occur,” Mr Cook said.
“The Chief Health Officer has recommended a 14-day rolling average of less than five community cases per day in each State and Territory (currently being met in each jurisdiction) be required before progressing to the new border controls.”
He said that at this point, travellers from all States and Territories that have no community cases in 28 days would be permitted to enter WA subject to certain conditions.
“The Chief Health Officer will continue to closely monitor community transmission in other States and Territories into the future, and will advise the Government if any changes to our borders are required to keep Western Australians protected,” Mr Cook said.
“All through this pandemic we have been guided by our health advice. It has served us well as we have embarked on our own unique recovery, best suited to Western Australia.”
He said this advice had brought the State to the next step on its journey “to safely and sensibly transition from our hard border to a new controlled interstate border”.
