Type of Intervention: Executive Order
Sectors Involved: Civil Defence, Education, Finance/Economy, Health, Immigration, Indigenous Peoples, Media/Arts/Culture, Private Sector and Businesses, Tourism
Intervention Categories: Social and physical distancing measures; Reopening offices, businesses, institutions, and operations; Allowing gatherings, businesses, and services; Allowing domestic travel; Planning and strategy; Creation of or release of plans
Level of Jurisdiction: Western Australia
Lead People/Agency: Premier Mark McGowan, Minister for Health Roger Cook
Overview: The McGowan Government has released a roadmap to carefully ease COVID-19 restrictions, to start getting Western Australians back to work safely and begin the process of re-starting the State’s economy.
The four phase plan was developed in conjunction with the National Cabinet framework and is based on the best health advice for Western Australia.
It will come into effect from Monday, May 18 (or 11.59pm on Sunday, May 17), giving businesses and families time to plan accordingly, and includes:
-indoor and outdoor non-work gatherings lifted to 20 people;
-people are encouraged to return to work, unless they are unwell or vulnerable;
-cafés and restaurants can reopen with meal service (including within pubs, bars, clubs, hotels and casino), limited to 20 patrons and the four square metre rule applied;
-weddings and funerals, limited to up to 20 attendees (30 for outdoor);
-places of worship, community facilities and libraries to re-open, limited to 20 patrons;
-community sports (non-contact) limited to 20 people;
-outdoor or indoor fitness classes (minimal shared equipment) limited to 20 participants;
-public swimming pools can open under strict rules (one indoor pool and one outdoor pool), limited to 20 patrons per pool.
If businesses or premises want to reopen they will be required to complete an official COVID Safety Plan. More details on this will be released shortly, in consultation with industry.
As part of Phase 2, regional travel restrictions will also change, bringing the number of current borders within Western Australia from 13 to only four (not including the Commonwealth Biosecurity zone and remote communities). The new regional boundaries will allow:
-travel between the South-West, Great Southern, Wheatbelt, Perth and Peel regions;
-travel between the Mid-West, Gascoyne and Pilbara regions (excluding Biosecurity zone);
-travel within the Goldfields-Esperance region (excluding the Biosecurity zone);
-travel permitted within the Kimberley local government areas (the Commonwealth’s Biosecurity zone remains in place).
Full details here: https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2020/05/The-WA-roadmap-for-easing-COVID-19-restrictions.aspx
Other links: 1
Type of Justification: Follows National Cabinet decision (so Federal) but moving from Phase 2 to “Phase 3 will be finalised in the coming weeks, based on the advice from the Chief Health Officer and will take into account the infection rates across WA”
Source of Evidence or Justification: National – government