❓ Mr. Blayney questions the rationale behind differing intrastate travel restrictions for Geraldton and Albany. The Premier defends the decision based on health advice, vulnerability of remote communities, and staged reopening approach.
AnsweredQoN 267Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS —
INTRASTATE TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS
267. Mr I.C. BLAYNEY to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
What health and economic advice led to Geraldton, which is similar in size,
provision of services and distance from Perth as Albany, not having its border
restrictions lifted, while people in Albany are free to travel to and from the
metropolitan area as they wish?
INTRASTATE TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS
267. Mr I.C. BLAYNEY to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
What health and economic advice led to Geraldton, which is similar in size,
provision of services and distance from Perth as Albany, not having its border
restrictions lifted, while people in Albany are free to travel to and from the
metropolitan area as they wish?
AnswerView source ↗
We have taken it from 13 zones down
to four, but the advice of the Chief Health Officer was that we could leave it
as it was or go to the arrangements that we have announced. The arrangements
that we have announced will allow for people from throughout the Pilbara, the
Gascoyne and the Murchison to travel to the midwest, and indeed Geraldton,
which is probably the biggest city within that zone, or indeed people from
Geraldton, as they like, to go further north on holidays over this period. We
are saying to people that that is entirely their right and would be appropriate
if they wish to do so, subject to social distancing and the like.
The
advice from the Chief Health Office was that if we open up the entire state, we
would have more trouble tracking people. Bear in mind Perth–Peel
has a population of about 2.3 million people, and if we open up the entire
state, the north would be more vulnerable than the south for two reasons. The
first is that healthcare facilities in the north are, obviously, further apart
than, and perhaps not of the scale of, the health facilities in the south; and,
second—the Commissioner of Police was very strong on this—there
are communities throughout the midwest, the Pilbara and Gascoyne that are very
vulnerable. If we look at Meekatharra, Cue or a range of other communities that
are populated heavily by many Aboriginal people, we find that their
vulnerability is very obvious. We all know that Aboriginal people's
immune systems are often more compromised, so it was a health measure to
protect more vulnerable communities.
I
urge everyone to understand that this was not an easy decision. Obviously, I knew
we would be criticised and I knew people would say that it was the wrong
move, but we made this decision on the basis of wanting to protect people, doing the right thing by the state, having a staged
set of openings, and moving cautiously and consistently to protect the
people of the state, particularly people in regional WA.
The SPEAKER : That is the end
of question time.
to four, but the advice of the Chief Health Officer was that we could leave it
as it was or go to the arrangements that we have announced. The arrangements
that we have announced will allow for people from throughout the Pilbara, the
Gascoyne and the Murchison to travel to the midwest, and indeed Geraldton,
which is probably the biggest city within that zone, or indeed people from
Geraldton, as they like, to go further north on holidays over this period. We
are saying to people that that is entirely their right and would be appropriate
if they wish to do so, subject to social distancing and the like.
The
advice from the Chief Health Office was that if we open up the entire state, we
would have more trouble tracking people. Bear in mind Perth–Peel
has a population of about 2.3 million people, and if we open up the entire
state, the north would be more vulnerable than the south for two reasons. The
first is that healthcare facilities in the north are, obviously, further apart
than, and perhaps not of the scale of, the health facilities in the south; and,
second—the Commissioner of Police was very strong on this—there
are communities throughout the midwest, the Pilbara and Gascoyne that are very
vulnerable. If we look at Meekatharra, Cue or a range of other communities that
are populated heavily by many Aboriginal people, we find that their
vulnerability is very obvious. We all know that Aboriginal people's
immune systems are often more compromised, so it was a health measure to
protect more vulnerable communities.
I
urge everyone to understand that this was not an easy decision. Obviously, I knew
we would be criticised and I knew people would say that it was the wrong
move, but we made this decision on the basis of wanting to protect people, doing the right thing by the state, having a staged
set of openings, and moving cautiously and consistently to protect the
people of the state, particularly people in regional WA.
The SPEAKER : That is the end
of question time.
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