❓ Mrs. Harvey questions the Premier on the limited family reunion exemptions despite the Chief Health Officer's assessment of safety, highlighting the mental health impact on WA families. The Premier acknowledges the difficulty but defends the border restrictions based on current health advice.
AnsweredQoN 801Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS —
INTERSTATE BORDER RESTRICTIONS — CHIEF HEALTH OFFICER ADVICE
801. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Why has the Premier not allowed more family reunion exemptions, which the Chief
Health Officer considers safe, given the terrible and unnecessary toll it is
having on Western Australian families and their mental health, particularly in
the lead-up to Christmas?
INTERSTATE BORDER RESTRICTIONS — CHIEF HEALTH OFFICER ADVICE
801. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Why has the Premier not allowed more family reunion exemptions, which the Chief
Health Officer considers safe, given the terrible and unnecessary toll it is
having on Western Australian families and their mental health, particularly in
the lead-up to Christmas?
AnswerView source ↗
There are a range of exemptions
contained under the existing directions, and the exemptions differ according to
risk within the jurisdictions from which people would like to come to Western Australia.
Obviously, Victoria and New South Wales are different from other states. There
are a range of exemptions that police enforce both at the airport and at the
borders in Eucla and Kununurra. That is the existing situation. Dr Robertson
was talking about future things that could
be considered. Just to make a point about family reunion and the like, I am
very familiar with that because my own mother and father, Mary and
Dennis, live in New South Wales, as does my brother Michael, and I have not
seen them since January, so I am very familiar with that. I love my mum and dad
and my brother and I would love to see them. But at this point in time, we
cannot bring down the border, because the health advice is that the existing
arrangements should stay in place.
contained under the existing directions, and the exemptions differ according to
risk within the jurisdictions from which people would like to come to Western Australia.
Obviously, Victoria and New South Wales are different from other states. There
are a range of exemptions that police enforce both at the airport and at the
borders in Eucla and Kununurra. That is the existing situation. Dr Robertson
was talking about future things that could
be considered. Just to make a point about family reunion and the like, I am
very familiar with that because my own mother and father, Mary and
Dennis, live in New South Wales, as does my brother Michael, and I have not
seen them since January, so I am very familiar with that. I love my mum and dad
and my brother and I would love to see them. But at this point in time, we
cannot bring down the border, because the health advice is that the existing
arrangements should stay in place.
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