WA Premier warns state’s border will remain closed tight if NSW goes “rogue”

Western Australia will keep its border closed to states that “go rogue”, according to Premier Mark McGowan.

In response to alarming comments made by NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard yesterday, McGowan warned WA borders would remain firmly closed until the Greater Sydney outbreak is under control.

During NSW’s COVID-19 update on Thursday morning, Hazzard said that if individuals don’t follow restrictions, the state would have move to a stage where we accept the virus “will continue in the community”.

“Particularly for the community in south-west Sydney; Canterbury, Bankstown, Fairfield and Liverpool, [you need] to understand that your individual actions may well determine the future of this virus in our community,” he said.

McGowan said that if this becomes a reality, it was “bleeding obvious” that WA would keep its hard border stance.

“You can’t just allow the virus to run and then expect every other state to have their border down and import it to other states. That would not be fair,” the WA Premier said.

“If a state goes rogue and behaves in an irresponsible fashion, you have to expect other states to use the measures they have to protect the state.

“If they have continuing spread of the virus in NSW, before such time as all West Australians are vaccinated and they allow that to continue, then you would have to have ongoing restrictions and rules about the state that allows that to happen.”

McGowan’s warning came as South Australia announced it would open its borders to the Northern Territory and Western Australia, and ease restrictions on various parts of Queensland, effective immediately.

Those travelling from the Northern Territory and Western Australia will still need to complete a cross border travel registration and will be subject to level three requirements including getting tested on days one, five and 13, self-quarantining until their first test comes back negative.

Those travelling from NSW and the ACT remain banned from entering South Australia.

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