Here is exactly what the Premier said today.
Credit ABC
‘Western Australia is set to transition to a safe and sensible controlled interstate border regime, based on the latest public health advice from the WA Chief Health Officer.
‘Under WA’s new controlled border, the existing hard border exemption system will be removed and replaced with an updated nationwide health-based threshold that allows for safe travel into Western Australia from interstate with conditions, and subject to trigger points being met.
‘Pending latest health advice, effective from 12:01am on Saturday November 14, Western Australia will 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.
‘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.
‘At this point, travellers from all States and Territories that are ‘very low risk’ – no community cases in 28 days – will be permitted to enter WA and comply with conditions, including:
all Perth Airport arrivals to undergo a health screening and temperature test on arrival
being prepared to take a COVID-19 test at the airport COVID clinic, if deemed necessary by a health clinician (voluntary asymptomatic testing available for all airport arrivals)
complete a G2G Pass declaration, stipulating they do not have any COVID-19 symptoms and which jurisdictions the traveller has been in over the previous 14 days
all travellers to receive a SMS health check reminder one week into their stay in WA
land arrivals to be met at the border checkpoint, for a health screening and to have their G2G Pass declaration checked.
These jurisdictions currently include Tasmania, Queensland, South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory.
‘All travellers from States and Territories that are deemed ‘low risk’ – less than five community cases per day on a 14-day rolling average – will be permitted to enter WA and comply with similar conditions as ‘very low risk’ jurisdictions, however they will also be required to:
take a COVID-19 test at the airport COVID clinic, if deemed necessary by a health clinician (voluntary asymptomatic testing available for all airport arrivals)
self-quarantine for 14 days in a suitable approved premise
present for a COVID-19 test on day 11.
These jurisdictions currently include New South Wales and Victoria.
‘Failure to follow these directions will be enforceable by law, with penalties ranging from $1,000 infringements to up to $50,000 fines for individuals.
‘Based on the public health advice, New South Wales and Victoria remain as a low risk jurisdiction, however when they reach 28 days of no community cases or are deemed ‘very low risk’ by the Chief Health Officer, they will move into that category of border control measures.
‘The Chief Health Officer will continue to closely monitor community transmission in other States and Territories into the future, and will advise the WA Government if any changes to our borders are required to keep Western Australians protected.
‘The modified two square metre rule (with exemptions) and remote Aboriginal community restrictions will remain in place for the time being, with all Western Australians strongly encouraged to embrace COVID-safe principles.
‘Effective from tomorrow (12:01am, Saturday October 31) exempt New Zealand travellers arriving via other Australian cities, as per the new controlled border regime, will be directed to self-quarantine for 14 days at a suitable premise and be required to present for a COVID-19 test on day 11 of their arrival in WA.
‘In addition, due to the success of suppressing the virus in Victoria, the list of exemptions for travel into WA will be expanded to mirror all other Australian jurisdictions under WA’s current hard border regime. This will come into effect from tomorrow (12:01am, Saturday October 31) and run until the new controlled border is in place.’
