CORONAVIRUS — POLICE — G2G PASS
408. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Minister for Police:
I know that this minister will give
a proper answer.
Several members interjected.
Dr D.J. HONEY: I am extremely
confident after the clown act we just heard.
I
refer to the lack of transparency in the G2G PASS process, leaving Western Australians
stranded on the east coast who have been repeatedly denied a G2G PASS
even if they are vaccinated, live and work in this state and, in some cases,
need to return home for medical reasons. This is a key part of the question if
members care to listen.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER: Members! I am
not sure whether you want question time to run for the rest of the afternoon or
whether you want me to cut it short, but we will not be able to progress if we
get incessant interjections throughout the opposition's questions.
Dr D.J. HONEY: Thank you
very much, Madam Speaker.
Will the minister introduce a transparent
review process for rejected applications for G2G passes; and, if not, will the
minister provide the house with the rationale behind his unwillingness to make
this change and be up-front with the WA public?
Mr P.
PAPALIA replied:
I thank the member for his
question. The G2G PASS criteria are set by the Chief Health Officer. The police
apply the rules as directed, indicated and confirmed by the Chief Health
Officer. The criteria go via a directive and the police apply them. When we
shut down a border, it is all done legally and in accordance with the process
that has been established since COVID first
confronted us all last year.
Nothing
has changed other than the threat of the Delta strain has meant that
some jurisdictions have had increased threat levels placed upon them and, as a consequence,
our border has been hardened. I do not think that is a bad thing. I think it is
a good thing that our border is hardened. I think it is good that our police
are rigorous in pursuing the requirements of the Chief Health Officer in
protecting the state, and I refuse to even contemplate contradicting that
process that has served us so well to date. I will repeat what I have said
previously.
I ask the member to convey this to
anyone who contacts him mistakenly thinking that is worth doing: ask them to
comply with the request by the police for documentation, whatever it is the
police ask for as justification for the pass. I was informed by the
Commissioner of Police only a couple of hours ago that it is a regular
occurrence. It is not incredibly regular; most people comply. The vast majority
of G2G applications are approved. Occasionally, some people are rejected but,
instead of changing their application to comply with the request for
information, they reapply without any change to their application. Contact the
police. Talk to the police about what is required. Read the emails or messages
received from the police and comply with the request for documentation that
confirms whatever claim the person is making. It will then be very likely that
the person will be given an exemption and will be able to travel.