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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 554 asked in the Legislative Council on 19 August 2021 by Hon Martin Aldridge

Parliament: 41 Session: 1

CORONAVIRUS — YONGAH HILL IMMIGRATION DETENTION CENTRE

554. Hon MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the Leader of the House representing the Premier:

I refer to the decision to classify New South Wales as a high-risk jurisdiction on 17 August under the controlled border arrangements and the subsequent arrival of an Australian Border Force flight this week transporting 72 individuals from Sydney into WA.

(1) At what date and what time did the Premier become aware of this flight arriving in Western Australia?

(2) Under which exemption category were the 72 individuals present on the flight approved for a G2G PASS?

(3) Has the Chief Health Officer provided any advice about the risk this flight poses to the WA community; and, if so, please detail this advice.

(4) In regard to the 72 individuals who travelled on this flight —

(a) what is the vaccination status of each individual;

(b) what is the current quarantine status of each individual; and

(c) can the Premier confirm that each individual has registered to use the G2G Now application as mandatory under the controlled border arrangements?

Hon SUE ELLERY replied:

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question.

(1) The Premier was made aware of reports of the flight on the morning of 18 August 2021.

(2)–(4) The detainees and any movement of them are the responsibility of the commonwealth government. Western Australia Police Force advises that Australian Border Force provided it with details of the detainees, and under the Yongah Hill Immigration Detainees Directions (No 3) there is no requirement for the detainees to complete a G2G PASS declaration. The commonwealth government is responsible for the detainees and should have taken all necessary steps to protect the WA community from the risk associated with moving the detainees to Yongah Hill from New South Wales. The McGowan government has put in place strong border arrangements aimed at preventing COVID-19 from coming to WA from NSW, including the requirements for a negative polymerase chain reaction test within 72 hours of departing New South Wales; proof of receipt of at least one vaccination, if eligible for vaccination in the point of origin, unless medically exempted; mandatory use of G2G Now; and self-quarantine requirements. If there is any risk, it is the result of the actions of the commonwealth government.