❓ Mr. Aubrey asks the Premier for an update on WA's transition out of the state of emergency and how the government is managing the current stage of the pandemic. The Premier outlines the transition, encourages personal responsibility, and discusses future pandemic preparedness.
AnsweredQoN 685Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS
— STATE OF EMERGENCY — TRANSITION
685. Mr S.N. AUBREY to the Premier:
I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the student
leaders from Deanmore Primary School in the gallery today and thank them for
their leadership and service to the Scarborough community.
I refer to Western Australia's response to the COVID-19
pandemic that has delivered some of the best health and economic outcomes in the world. Can the Premier update the house on WA's
transition out of the state of emergency and outline how the government
is managing the current stage of the pandemic?
— STATE OF EMERGENCY — TRANSITION
685. Mr S.N. AUBREY to the Premier:
I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the student
leaders from Deanmore Primary School in the gallery today and thank them for
their leadership and service to the Scarborough community.
I refer to Western Australia's response to the COVID-19
pandemic that has delivered some of the best health and economic outcomes in the world. Can the Premier update the house on WA's
transition out of the state of emergency and outline how the government
is managing the current stage of the pandemic?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Scarborough for the question.
On 4 November, we transitioned out of the state of emergency
that had been in place for two and a half years, and the public health state of emergency was also revoked. However, COVID
remains in the community and I understand there are some concerns among
the public. We urge members of the public to please wear a mask, should they
wish, and make sure to stay home if they are unwell. People should not go to
work if they are sick. This will protect other people and themselves. I note in
the community that older people in particular are wearing masks. I think that is entirely admirable and appropriate should
they choose to do so. At this time, we have no advice that we need to
reinstate mask wearing, and I do not expect we will. It is not part of our
plans or agenda. I do not think it will happen, but obviously we cannot rule
anything out with COVID because it is completely unpredictable.
Going forward, we will commission an independent review into
COVID, as was called for by many people, so we can look at what lessons were learnt and at what should happen in five,
10, 15 or 100 years if there is another pandemic so people can deal with
a future pandemic. We want to make sure there is at least some sort of road map
for future governments and people to deal with pandemics based on the
experience of the last one. Members will recall that on 16 March 2020, we were
preparing for the worst, including tens of thousands of deaths, mass
unemployment and an economy that was heading for what was potentially the same
result as the Great Depression of 1929. That was what we were advised, at the
national level, was going to happen. Fortunately, due to a range of things both
nationally and at the state level, we avoided all that. Because of our public
health measures, border controls, vaccinations, and strong testing and
isolation requirements, we managed to massively reduce hospitalisations and
save lives. It is because of all those things and a range of other measures
that we managed to protect the economy and
ended up with the strongest health and economic outcomes in the world. That is
a credit to all Western Australians for doing the right thing during a difficult
period. In closing, I will say that we have the temporary COVID laws available
to us—to invoke if necessary—to put in place measures again
should they be required. I cannot foresee that is required at this point. We
are not planning for it. We do not expect we will need to, but at least we have
the backup should we need it.
On 4 November, we transitioned out of the state of emergency
that had been in place for two and a half years, and the public health state of emergency was also revoked. However, COVID
remains in the community and I understand there are some concerns among
the public. We urge members of the public to please wear a mask, should they
wish, and make sure to stay home if they are unwell. People should not go to
work if they are sick. This will protect other people and themselves. I note in
the community that older people in particular are wearing masks. I think that is entirely admirable and appropriate should
they choose to do so. At this time, we have no advice that we need to
reinstate mask wearing, and I do not expect we will. It is not part of our
plans or agenda. I do not think it will happen, but obviously we cannot rule
anything out with COVID because it is completely unpredictable.
Going forward, we will commission an independent review into
COVID, as was called for by many people, so we can look at what lessons were learnt and at what should happen in five,
10, 15 or 100 years if there is another pandemic so people can deal with
a future pandemic. We want to make sure there is at least some sort of road map
for future governments and people to deal with pandemics based on the
experience of the last one. Members will recall that on 16 March 2020, we were
preparing for the worst, including tens of thousands of deaths, mass
unemployment and an economy that was heading for what was potentially the same
result as the Great Depression of 1929. That was what we were advised, at the
national level, was going to happen. Fortunately, due to a range of things both
nationally and at the state level, we avoided all that. Because of our public
health measures, border controls, vaccinations, and strong testing and
isolation requirements, we managed to massively reduce hospitalisations and
save lives. It is because of all those things and a range of other measures
that we managed to protect the economy and
ended up with the strongest health and economic outcomes in the world. That is
a credit to all Western Australians for doing the right thing during a difficult
period. In closing, I will say that we have the temporary COVID laws available
to us—to invoke if necessary—to put in place measures again
should they be required. I cannot foresee that is required at this point. We
are not planning for it. We do not expect we will need to, but at least we have
the backup should we need it.
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