WA Premier Mark McGowan says WA has secured a "more sensible and more workable" solution on accommodating overseas arrivals into the state's quarantine system following the National Cabinet meeting today.
Key points:
- WA will receive an extra 500 overseas arrivals per week by October 11
- It will be a staged approach, with the quota rising by 200 from next week
- Prime Minister Scott Morrison has pledged help from the ADF if needed
WA will take an extra 200 people per week from September 27, and an extra 500 per week by October 11.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has provided an "express guarantee of support" from the Commonwealth, through the Australian Defence Force.
WA Premier Mark McGowan had been strongly critical of the Federal Government's announcement earlier in the week, when it announced it would lift the limit on international arrivals.
But today he seemed to indicate federal-state relations had thawed.
"This new approach is far more appropriate and far more manageable," he said.
"However, it still does present a risk to Western Australians. WA Health and WA Police will work through this in the coming weeks, so we are fully and totally prepared."
Mr McGowan acknowledged his frustration with the Federal Government earlier in the week, but indicated he was satisfied with the new plan.
"I am glad the Federal Government agreed to provide more Australian Defence Force support and adjust the earlier decision that they made," he said.
"We will do what we can to help bring stranded Australians home safely and at the same time, we will keep doing everything possible to protect West Australians.
The Premier signalled at least one more quarantine hotel would need to be set up, but Rottnest Island would not be used for quarantine at this stage.
He said it may be necessary to delay some elective surgery, if extra doctors and nurses have to be sent to the new hotel.
Speaking after a meeting of the National Cabinet today, Mr Morrison said he and the premiers had been able to compromise on the highly contentious issue.
"I welcome their support for that today," Mr Morrison said.
"These are Western Australians coming home to Western Australia."
Call for Border Force help
Earlier today, WA Health Minister Roger Cook said each quarantine hotel in WA requires three doctors and nine nurses, as well as welfare staff, working around the clock.
Mr Cook warned WA was already at capacity with seven hotels housing about 2,000 people in quarantine.
He said there would be consequences if more doctors and nurses had to be taken from hospitals to work at new quarantine hotels.
"Ultimately, there's a limitation to what we can do in the hotel area without detracting from our hospital services," Mr Cook said.
Any future potential outbreak of the virus in WA would be the Commonwealth's responsibility, he added.
"If we are forced to stretch our resources, if we're forced to lower the standard of hotel quarantining and ultimately there's some outbreaks, well the Commonwealth is responsible for that because they're the ones that have produced this situation, which is putting the system at breaking point," Mr Cook said.
Green light for music festivals in WA
Meanwhile, the WA Government has announced a further easing of restrictions in WA, music and other festivals will now be allowed if they meet new guidelines.
Organisers of events with more than 500 people will be required to submit a COVID-19 event plan to the Department of Health.
They will still have to respect the two-square-metre rule on socially distancing.
"Music festivals can now be assessed and could be approved pending assessment of plans by the Department of Health," Mr McGowan said.
He said events like the Wave Rock festival, the Spring in the Valley event and suburban and regional shows could now go ahead with COVID-19 event plans.
WA recorded no new cases of COVID-19 overnight, with the state's total remaining at 661.
There are three active cases in WA.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiaWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTA5LTE4L3dhLXRvLXRha2UtbW9yZS1hdXN0cmFsaWFucy1yZXR1cm5pbmctaG9tZS1mb3ItcXVhcmFudGluZS8xMjY3ODAzNNIBJ2h0dHBzOi8vYW1wLmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvYXJ0aWNsZS8xMjY3ODAzNA?oc=5
2020-09-18 04:45:00Z
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