❓ The Premier addresses the implementation of intrastate travel restrictions, outlining exemptions and enforcement measures to curb the spread of coronavirus, while acknowledging the inconvenience and thanking the public for their understanding.
AnsweredQoN 213Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS — INTRASTATE
TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS
213. MR S.J. PRICE to the Premier:
Can the Premier update the house on
the implementation of unprecedented intrastate travel restrictions overnight?
TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS
213. MR S.J. PRICE to the Premier:
Can the Premier update the house on
the implementation of unprecedented intrastate travel restrictions overnight?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Forrestfield
for the question. Last night, travel restrictions between our regions came into
force around our state. Western Australians will not be able to travel outside
their regional boundaries, unless for an
exempt purpose. These are our normal regional boundaries, except for Perth and
Peel, which is considered to be one
region because of their interconnectedness. There are obviously exemptions for
essential purposes: for example , getting
home; getting to and from work, including FIFO, freight, construction and
agricultural work; being a primary carer
or fulfilling a parenting order; the need to attend medical appointments; the
need to access groceries or supplies ; the need to attend school or an
educational institution; and, of course, compassionate grounds. The full set of
directions is on the Western Australian government website now.
This is about striking the right balance. We are doing this
in order to keep the state running whilst at the same time trying to stop the
spread of the virus into vulnerable regional areas. It is enforceable, and
penalties can apply to people who travel across regional boundaries without an
exemption. It is completely unprecedented. This is not something I wanted to
do. We apologise to all Western Australians for having to do this, and we thank
them for their understanding.
The orders came into effect around the state at 11.59 last
night. Checkpoints are set up around the state at regional borders by the Western Australia Police Force with
assistance at checkpoints from agencies, including Main Roads , the
Australian Defence Force and the State Emergency Service, so that means a range
of voluntary groups and also the Army. In particular, I would like to thank the
police for all their work; they have been doing a terrific job. Early reports
are that it is working well and freight is still going through. Indeed, I think
freight might be working very well. Obviously, some people will be frustrated
and impatient. We ask people to understand why we are doing this. The advice
this morning was that, overnight, more than 1 000 vehicles went through
checkpoints across the state, and two were turned around. This is an
encouraging piece of advice and shows that the vast majority of people in the
community understand that they should travel only as necessary. Police have
been instructed to be as understanding as possible. But we ask all Western Australians,
if they are crossing these borders for essential purposes, to make it as easy
as possible for authorities to say yes to them. If they have some sort of
documentation to back up the nature of their travel—their employment, a
letter from their boss, proof of address or a court order—anything to
make it easier would be much appreciated. This is not a time to go on holidays
or to be a grey nomad. The new case numbers
over the last few days have been encouraging, but we have to stay absolutely
vigilant about the spread of the illness and, as the Minister for Health
said, we are sailing into the storm, not out of it. Western Australia is a big
state and this is an essential step-by-step process to stop the spread of the
coronavirus to regional and remote communities. We thank all people across the
state, especially regional Western Australians, for their understanding at this
time.
for the question. Last night, travel restrictions between our regions came into
force around our state. Western Australians will not be able to travel outside
their regional boundaries, unless for an
exempt purpose. These are our normal regional boundaries, except for Perth and
Peel, which is considered to be one
region because of their interconnectedness. There are obviously exemptions for
essential purposes: for example , getting
home; getting to and from work, including FIFO, freight, construction and
agricultural work; being a primary carer
or fulfilling a parenting order; the need to attend medical appointments; the
need to access groceries or supplies ; the need to attend school or an
educational institution; and, of course, compassionate grounds. The full set of
directions is on the Western Australian government website now.
This is about striking the right balance. We are doing this
in order to keep the state running whilst at the same time trying to stop the
spread of the virus into vulnerable regional areas. It is enforceable, and
penalties can apply to people who travel across regional boundaries without an
exemption. It is completely unprecedented. This is not something I wanted to
do. We apologise to all Western Australians for having to do this, and we thank
them for their understanding.
The orders came into effect around the state at 11.59 last
night. Checkpoints are set up around the state at regional borders by the Western Australia Police Force with
assistance at checkpoints from agencies, including Main Roads , the
Australian Defence Force and the State Emergency Service, so that means a range
of voluntary groups and also the Army. In particular, I would like to thank the
police for all their work; they have been doing a terrific job. Early reports
are that it is working well and freight is still going through. Indeed, I think
freight might be working very well. Obviously, some people will be frustrated
and impatient. We ask people to understand why we are doing this. The advice
this morning was that, overnight, more than 1 000 vehicles went through
checkpoints across the state, and two were turned around. This is an
encouraging piece of advice and shows that the vast majority of people in the
community understand that they should travel only as necessary. Police have
been instructed to be as understanding as possible. But we ask all Western Australians,
if they are crossing these borders for essential purposes, to make it as easy
as possible for authorities to say yes to them. If they have some sort of
documentation to back up the nature of their travel—their employment, a
letter from their boss, proof of address or a court order—anything to
make it easier would be much appreciated. This is not a time to go on holidays
or to be a grey nomad. The new case numbers
over the last few days have been encouraging, but we have to stay absolutely
vigilant about the spread of the illness and, as the Minister for Health
said, we are sailing into the storm, not out of it. Western Australia is a big
state and this is an essential step-by-step process to stop the spread of the
coronavirus to regional and remote communities. We thank all people across the
state, especially regional Western Australians, for their understanding at this
time.
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