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Coronavirus WA: Premier Mark McGowan calls on Federal cap on Perth airport flights with three new COVID cases

Peter de KruijffThe West Australian
VideoMark McGowan has given an update on the virus crisis in Western Australia.

Mark McGowan has asked the Federal Government to put a cap on international arrivals into Perth airport — after three new confirmed cases from international travellers were recorded overnight.

State Cabinet has also decided to draft legislation to force returning Australians who come back to the country, through WA, to pay for their mandated 14 days of hotel isolation.

Arrivals into Perth from interstate and overseas have slightly increased in the past week according to the Premier although they remain at a 98 per cent reduction compared to pre-pandemic.

“If arrivals increase our resources will start to be spread thin,” Mr McGowan said.

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“We need to slow the flow of arrivals into WA.”

Mr McGowan has told the Prime Minister there should be a limit on international flight arrivals to Perth to just one every three days.

The new cases of COVID-19 recorded in WA overnight were all Australians who had recently returned from overseas.

Two of the new cases come from interstate travellers flying into Perth from Indonesia while another on board a flight from Doha brings the active cases in the state to 12.

Mr McGowan added that while Parliament is on a winter break it could return to push through legislation making Australians returning home from overseas pay for their 14 days in hotel quarantine.

It cost taxpayers $14,781,555 up to June 15 to run the WA hotel quarantine program and there are more than 1100 people currently in isolation across five hotels in Perth.

Mr McGowan said his biggest concern was still international arrivals compared to domestic travellers when it came to WA’s quarantine program.

“The international people are far more likely to have the virus,” he said.

As a result of Victoria’s outbreak the Premier said the State Government would review over the next week whether it was still appropriate to go to Phase 5 of restriction step downs.

McGowan also used his press conference this afternoon to call on Scott Morrison to withdraw the Federal Government’s support for Queensland billionaire Clive Palmer’s High Court challenge over WA’s hard border.

Mr McGowan said the introduction of a hard border between Victoria and New South Wales was evidence that the High Court challenge against WA’s own restrictions was clearly flawed.

“The border between Victoria and NSW will now close. I think that is a smart and correct decision and I think it has been long overdue,” he said.

“Clearly there is no basis for this high court challenge now, especially the Commonwealth.

“I think it is appropriate now they withdraw this legal action.”

Mr McGowan said the legal action was consuming precious resources including the time of senior WA officials such as the chief health officer, State solicitor’s office and the WA Police commissioner.

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