❓ Ms. Davies questions the Premier regarding the adequacy of police resources allocated to assess G2G pass applications for interstate travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, citing inconsistent decisions and public dissatisfaction. The Premier acknowledges public grievances but defends the border restrictions as necessary for public health, hinting at potential resource increases.
AnsweredQoN 562Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS — INTERSTATE TRAVEL
RESTRICTIONS — EXEMPTIONS
562. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
I refer to the case reported by the
ABC on 29 July about the WA man who was refused a G2G pass to return to Perth
while his wife was granted one, and to the increasing number of Western Australians
who find themselves in a similar situation.
(1) Does the Premier believe the 400
police currently assigned to assess these applications is adequate?
(2) Given the
ongoing state of emergency and restrictions in WA, will the Premier increase
resources for the WA police to add to the personnel currently assigned to
assess these applications?
RESTRICTIONS — EXEMPTIONS
562. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
I refer to the case reported by the
ABC on 29 July about the WA man who was refused a G2G pass to return to Perth
while his wife was granted one, and to the increasing number of Western Australians
who find themselves in a similar situation.
(1) Does the Premier believe the 400
police currently assigned to assess these applications is adequate?
(2) Given the
ongoing state of emergency and restrictions in WA, will the Premier increase
resources for the WA police to add to the personnel currently assigned to
assess these applications?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I am not aware of the particular case that the
member is referring to, but I do understand that there have been some people
who have been aggrieved and unhappy with the rules and the decisions put in
place. It has not been an easy process. Lots of people have not enjoyed or have
not been happy with the decisions made by police along this journey over the
last six months. But we are doing it for the best of reasons, and we are doing
it to protect the people of Western Australia. We now have had 130 days without
a case of community spread of the virus in WA, and our border is a part of
that. So although some difficult decisions have been made, the decisions have
been made with the best interests of the health of the people of the state at
heart, and they have been made in order to minimise risk. Around 400 police
officers are working on this, and a whole bunch of health officials and
personnel are working on it. We also have a small contingent of ADF working on
it. I expect we will have more to say about the additional resources in coming
days.
member is referring to, but I do understand that there have been some people
who have been aggrieved and unhappy with the rules and the decisions put in
place. It has not been an easy process. Lots of people have not enjoyed or have
not been happy with the decisions made by police along this journey over the
last six months. But we are doing it for the best of reasons, and we are doing
it to protect the people of Western Australia. We now have had 130 days without
a case of community spread of the virus in WA, and our border is a part of
that. So although some difficult decisions have been made, the decisions have
been made with the best interests of the health of the people of the state at
heart, and they have been made in order to minimise risk. Around 400 police
officers are working on this, and a whole bunch of health officials and
personnel are working on it. We also have a small contingent of ADF working on
it. I expect we will have more to say about the additional resources in coming
days.
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