❓ Ms. Davies questions the Premier about updated Omicron modelling and its impact on reopening the WA border. The Premier defends the decision to delay reopening, citing the transmissibility of Omicron and its impact on the eastern states, emphasising the importance of saving lives and protecting the WA economy.
AnsweredQoN 27Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS — HEALTH MODELLING — OMICRON
VARIANT
27. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
Noting that at a briefing to the
opposition on 10 February, the Chief Health Officer confirmed only preliminary
Omicron modelling had been provided to government and further consideration was
needed of updated Omicron modelling and seeding impacts.
(1) Has the Premier received the
updated modelling referred to by the Chief Health Officer?
(2) Has this modelling been
considered by government?
(3) Will
consideration of this modelling be the trigger for the government to finally
dispense with the chaos and confusion, and provide the date to reopen the Western
Australian border?
VARIANT
27. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
Noting that at a briefing to the
opposition on 10 February, the Chief Health Officer confirmed only preliminary
Omicron modelling had been provided to government and further consideration was
needed of updated Omicron modelling and seeding impacts.
(1) Has the Premier received the
updated modelling referred to by the Chief Health Officer?
(2) Has this modelling been
considered by government?
(3) Will
consideration of this modelling be the trigger for the government to finally
dispense with the chaos and confusion, and provide the date to reopen the Western
Australian border?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) The
answer to that is no and no, to the best of my knowledge. Over February, as we
said, we will consider all the circumstances with a view to setting a new date
to bring down the hard border. I just want to repeat to the Leader of the
Opposition the reasons that we did what we did. When we announced the initial
date on 13 December, we set it for 5 February. We did that so we could get to
very high levels of double-dose vaccination. On 13 December, Omicron, as a variant,
was relatively new and the indications were that it was less severe. But we learnt, after 13 December, over the subsequent
month or so, that although it is less severe,
its transmissibility is extraordinary, and that changed everything. It
basically meant that hospitalisations in the east and the number of
people dying grew by massive amounts. That was the fact. We did not know that
was going to occur.
When I announced on 13 December that
5 February was the date, I put in a caveat. I said it was subject to an
emergency or a catastrophe. I happen to think thousands of people dying in the
eastern states is an emergency and a catastrophe. Members opposite might think
differently, but I actually think Australian lives are important and Western Australian
lives, especially for us here, are important. That is why we considered all the facts, we watched what was occurring
over east and we said on 30 January, in light of t he commitment that we
had made—if there was an emergency or a catastrophe—that we
would be deferring opening on 5 February. I think that is entirely reasonable.
I am actually shocked that there is a
big debate going on about saving lives. I am shocked that saving lives is somehow not an important consideration. I
am amazed by this. I am amazed the opposition is asking these questions.
Saving Western Australian lives is important, and we should be trying to do
that—and jobs. I outlined to members opposite before what Omicron has
done to the economies of South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. It has
absolutely devastated them.
We are watching, and the review will
take into account a whole range of things. One is our vaccination rates. I just saw a report online that our
vaccination rates now exceed New South Wales. That is extraordinary . We
did not have the big outbreaks and lockdowns that New South Wales had for
months and months, the federal bailout packages of billions and billions of
dollars or numerous deaths. We did not have that. Those are the things that
drive vaccination. We took tough action. We mandated vaccines for a range of
people and for people to go into certain premises because what was our
alternative to get vaccination rates up?
That has caused some people to be unhappy with us as a government. Personally,
it has caused me considerable grief.
But we did what we had to do. You do what you have to do in these positions.
So, watch the vaccination rate; that will be part of it, along with the
kids' vaccination rate and the fact that infections in the eastern
states appear to be declining. Opening at the peak of the outbreak, back in
early February, obviously, was a bad idea,
but it appears to be declining. That is another factor that we will take into
account , and any other relevant considerations. All of that will happen,
and we expect to get to an outcome later this month so we can set a new date
with a state that is far better prepared to open and to allow free travel
between states than it would have been on 5 February.
answer to that is no and no, to the best of my knowledge. Over February, as we
said, we will consider all the circumstances with a view to setting a new date
to bring down the hard border. I just want to repeat to the Leader of the
Opposition the reasons that we did what we did. When we announced the initial
date on 13 December, we set it for 5 February. We did that so we could get to
very high levels of double-dose vaccination. On 13 December, Omicron, as a variant,
was relatively new and the indications were that it was less severe. But we learnt, after 13 December, over the subsequent
month or so, that although it is less severe,
its transmissibility is extraordinary, and that changed everything. It
basically meant that hospitalisations in the east and the number of
people dying grew by massive amounts. That was the fact. We did not know that
was going to occur.
When I announced on 13 December that
5 February was the date, I put in a caveat. I said it was subject to an
emergency or a catastrophe. I happen to think thousands of people dying in the
eastern states is an emergency and a catastrophe. Members opposite might think
differently, but I actually think Australian lives are important and Western Australian
lives, especially for us here, are important. That is why we considered all the facts, we watched what was occurring
over east and we said on 30 January, in light of t he commitment that we
had made—if there was an emergency or a catastrophe—that we
would be deferring opening on 5 February. I think that is entirely reasonable.
I am actually shocked that there is a
big debate going on about saving lives. I am shocked that saving lives is somehow not an important consideration. I
am amazed by this. I am amazed the opposition is asking these questions.
Saving Western Australian lives is important, and we should be trying to do
that—and jobs. I outlined to members opposite before what Omicron has
done to the economies of South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. It has
absolutely devastated them.
We are watching, and the review will
take into account a whole range of things. One is our vaccination rates. I just saw a report online that our
vaccination rates now exceed New South Wales. That is extraordinary . We
did not have the big outbreaks and lockdowns that New South Wales had for
months and months, the federal bailout packages of billions and billions of
dollars or numerous deaths. We did not have that. Those are the things that
drive vaccination. We took tough action. We mandated vaccines for a range of
people and for people to go into certain premises because what was our
alternative to get vaccination rates up?
That has caused some people to be unhappy with us as a government. Personally,
it has caused me considerable grief.
But we did what we had to do. You do what you have to do in these positions.
So, watch the vaccination rate; that will be part of it, along with the
kids' vaccination rate and the fact that infections in the eastern
states appear to be declining. Opening at the peak of the outbreak, back in
early February, obviously, was a bad idea,
but it appears to be declining. That is another factor that we will take into
account , and any other relevant considerations. All of that will happen,
and we expect to get to an outcome later this month so we can set a new date
with a state that is far better prepared to open and to allow free travel
between states than it would have been on 5 February.
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