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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 441 asked in the Legislative Assembly on 18 June 2020 by Mrs L.M. Harvey

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

CORONAVIRUS — TOURISM — INTERSTATE TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

441. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:

I have a supplementary question. How many more Wendys from Geraldton Air Charter, Simons from Inspiration Outdoors and Rons from Cable Beach Caravan Park does the Premier have to hear about before he provides additional support for these small businesses and some opportunities for travel from our border states with no community spread of COVID-19?

Mr M. McGOWAN replied:

I have explained many times how both the commonwealth and the state have advice that having an arrangement with South Australia would, firstly, have very little economic benefit for the state and, secondly, be unconstitutional. I have explained that to the Leader of the Opposition many times. If we were to lift the border restrictions with the east, which the Liberal Party wants us to do immediately —

Mrs L.M. Harvey: With the NT and South Australia.

The SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition!

Mr M. McGOWAN: No. I have heard the Leader of the Opposition's position many times; she cannot back out of it. The Leader of the Opposition's position is to lift the border restrictions with the east immediately.

Several members interjected.

Mr M. McGOWAN: No. Maybe someone following me might get some of the quotes and answer a question along those lines.

The SPEAKER: Members! Premier! Leader of the Opposition, you have had two goes; just listen to the answer.

Mr M. McGOWAN: Yesterday, Victoria had 21 cases, of which a range were unexplained. That means that they were not people who had come from overseas and were in quarantine; they were unexplained cases in the community. Today, Victoria had 18 cases, of which 12 were locally acquired—that is, out in the community. All I would say to the Leader of the Opposition is that she has to be cautious. As the Chief Health Officer has advised, and as she is now aware because the documents have been tabled in the upper house, and I quote —

If the Closing the Border Directions were revoked, this would result in an increase in the risk of re-introduction of the disease and subsequent community transmission.

That is the advice of the Chief Health Officer. Liberal Party, please let us manage the health and economy, and be cooperative. Do not always nitpick and be critical. In conjunction with the people of Western Australia, we have successfully saved the lives of Western Australians, and we want to continue to do that and to open our economy within Western Australia in a COVID-safe way. We will get to the point at some time in the future when we can announce a lifting of the border arrangements with the east, but that time is not yet. Liberal members should let us get on without this constant carping, criticism and negativity in which they seem to want us to lift the border restrictions when it is unsafe. It is wrong of them to do that. Western Australians do not like the way they carry on—they are so critical and negative. They do not like it and they do not think members are being constructive. With the way they are carrying on, they are endangering the economy of Western Australia and the health of Western Australians.