❓ Ms Mettam questions the Premier regarding the safety of removing social distancing on public transport, referencing comments made by the Minister for Transport. The Premier defends the decision based on WA's low COVID-19 spread and the need to get people back to work.
AnsweredQoN 345Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS — PUBLIC
TRANSPORT
345. Ms L. METTAM to the Premier:
I refer to comments made by the
Minister for Transport this morning on ABC radio that social distancing is no
longer required on public transport.
(1) Can the
Premier explain to the house why it is safe for Western Australians to travel
in close proximity for extended periods on public transport without social
distancing?
(2) Will the
Premier please table the health advice so that the public can better understand
the decision?
TRANSPORT
345. Ms L. METTAM to the Premier:
I refer to comments made by the
Minister for Transport this morning on ABC radio that social distancing is no
longer required on public transport.
(1) Can the
Premier explain to the house why it is safe for Western Australians to travel
in close proximity for extended periods on public transport without social
distancing?
(2) Will the
Premier please table the health advice so that the public can better understand
the decision?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
am unaware of the comments. I just had a quick chat with the minister. She
advises me that what she said on air this morning was consistent with advice
from the Chief Health Officer.
We have advised people to go back to
work. We have told people that it is safe to go back to work. We have students
back at school. We also have to get people to work. As of a couple of days ago,
we had patronage on public transport running at greater than 60 per cent, and I
suspect that it is higher than that now. As I pointed out previously in this
chamber, or perhaps outside, other states are telling people not to catch
public transport. We are saying something different, because, unlike other
states, we have very low levels of spread of the virus in Western Australia.
That is why we put in place our interstate border to protect our state as best
we can. I urge the Liberal Party to support us in that rather than take the
side of the New South Wales Premier.
am unaware of the comments. I just had a quick chat with the minister. She
advises me that what she said on air this morning was consistent with advice
from the Chief Health Officer.
We have advised people to go back to
work. We have told people that it is safe to go back to work. We have students
back at school. We also have to get people to work. As of a couple of days ago,
we had patronage on public transport running at greater than 60 per cent, and I
suspect that it is higher than that now. As I pointed out previously in this
chamber, or perhaps outside, other states are telling people not to catch
public transport. We are saying something different, because, unlike other
states, we have very low levels of spread of the virus in Western Australia.
That is why we put in place our interstate border to protect our state as best
we can. I urge the Liberal Party to support us in that rather than take the
side of the New South Wales Premier.
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