❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks data on the impact of COVID-19 measures and vaccinations, including lockdowns, mask mandates, deaths, and vaccination rates, as well as mortality and suicide statistics. The answer references an independent review and provides some data on death rates and suicides.
AnsweredQoN 1846Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to a statement made by Hon Stephen Dawson, during the debate on the motion moved by myself on the 15 November 2023, referring to the effect of the government's COVID-19 measures that: “For the most part, our lives were virtually unchanged”. Would the minister please provide the following information, preferably in tabular form: (a) during the COVID-19 emergency declaration period, in Western Australia,: (i) the total number of days of state border lockdown; (ii) total number of days that masks were directed to be worn in public; (iii) total number of days that social distancing was directed to be undertaken; (iv) total number of days that the public was required to sign in to visit venues; (v) the number of people that died from forensically confirmed COVID-19; (vi) the number of people that died “from” PCR indicated COVID-19; and (vii) the number of people that died “with” COVID-19 attributed as being present.; and (b) following the start of the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out, in Western Australia,: (i) total number of COVID-19 vaccines voluntarily taken (not due to mandates); (ii) total number of COVID-19 vaccines administered due to the mandates; (iii) the average annual rate of total deaths; (iv) the average annual rate of excess deaths; (v) the average annual rate of suicide; (vi) the annual death total; (vii) the annual excess death total; and (viii) the annual number of suicides?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 March 2024
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health
Response time
4 days
(a) On 8 August 2023 the WA Government released the Independent Review into WA’s COVID-19 Management and Response (the Review). The Review, which is tabled in the Legislative Council, both outlined and examined the impact of the remarkable efforts of the entire community to meet the challenges of border closures, social distancing, vaccination checks and mask mandates. It also outlined the number of reported deaths attributed to COVID-19 throughout the COVID-19 emergency declaration period, in Western Australia.
(b)
2021
2022
(iii)
Average annual rate of total deaths*
(Deaths per 1,000 standard population)
4.8
5.0
(iv)
Average annual rate of excess deaths**
(Percentage of excess deaths)
0.9
7.1
(v)
Average annual rate of suicide***
(Age-standardised death rate per 100,000 population)
14.0
13.4
(vi)
Annual death total^
(Number of deaths)
15,891
17,299
(vii)
Annual excess death total^^
(Number of deaths)
136
1,159
(viii)
Annual number of suicides^^^
(Number of deaths)
390
377
* https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/deaths-australia/latest-release#states-and-territories
** https://www.abs.gov.au/articles/measuring-australias-excess-mortality-during-covid-19-pandemic-until-august-2023#weekly-all-cause-mortality-western-australia
*** https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/causes-death/causes-death-australia/2022#intentional-self-harm-deaths-suicide-in-australia
^ https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/deaths-australia/latest-release#states-and-territories
^^ https://www.abs.gov.au/articles/measuring-australias-excess-mortality-during-covid-19-pandemic-until-august-2023#weekly-all-cause-mortality-western-australia
^^^ https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/causes-death/causes-death-australia/2022#intentional-self-harm-deaths-suicide-in-australia
(b)
2021
2022
(iii)
Average annual rate of total deaths*
(Deaths per 1,000 standard population)
4.8
5.0
(iv)
Average annual rate of excess deaths**
(Percentage of excess deaths)
0.9
7.1
(v)
Average annual rate of suicide***
(Age-standardised death rate per 100,000 population)
14.0
13.4
(vi)
Annual death total^
(Number of deaths)
15,891
17,299
(vii)
Annual excess death total^^
(Number of deaths)
136
1,159
(viii)
Annual number of suicides^^^
(Number of deaths)
390
377
* https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/deaths-australia/latest-release#states-and-territories
** https://www.abs.gov.au/articles/measuring-australias-excess-mortality-during-covid-19-pandemic-until-august-2023#weekly-all-cause-mortality-western-australia
*** https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/causes-death/causes-death-australia/2022#intentional-self-harm-deaths-suicide-in-australia
^ https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/deaths-australia/latest-release#states-and-territories
^^ https://www.abs.gov.au/articles/measuring-australias-excess-mortality-during-covid-19-pandemic-until-august-2023#weekly-all-cause-mortality-western-australia
^^^ https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/causes-death/causes-death-australia/2022#intentional-self-harm-deaths-suicide-in-australia
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