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WA Premier Mark McGowan flags end to state of emergency COVID laws

Peter LawThe West Australian
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Mark McGowan has signalled WA’s state of emergency declaration enforced at the height of the COVID pandemic could come to an end after almost 900 days.
Camera IconMark McGowan has signalled WA’s state of emergency declaration enforced at the height of the COVID pandemic could come to an end after almost 900 days. Credit: Ian Munro/The West Australian

Mark McGowan has signalled WA’s state of emergency declaration enforced at the height of the COVID pandemic could come to an end after almost 900 days.

The Opposition has led calls for the state of emergency to cease and for the Government to instead pass laws through Parliament to enforce the remaining COVID rules.

Other State governments, such as South Australia and Victoria, made similar changes months ago.

The Premier on Tuesday flagged WA could follow suit by passing legislation allowing authorities to police the mask mandate at hospitals, aged-care homes and on public transport.

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“We’re looking at what can be done in terms of having a different regime. As soon as we can do that, we will,” Mr McGowan said.

“That’s currently what we’re examining (passing legislation), as to whether or not we can do that. I think a lot of this is, sort of, people looking for things to criticise. The existing rules are very mild and very modest.

“We had to have a legislative instrument to enforce it, if we can create another legislative instrument to do that, as soon as we can, we will.”

WA reported just 2145 COVID cases on Tuesday and has 12,507 active infections, the least since the first week of March at the start of the Omicron wave.

Pictured at the concert hall are Premier Mark McGowan, Culture and the Arts Minister David 
Templeman and Aboriginal Affairs Minister Tony Buti at today's announcement on the new Aboriginal Cultural Centre.
Camera IconPremier Mark McGowan.. Credit: Ian Munro/The West Australian

There were 294 in hospital with the virus, including 11 in ICU.

Nationals MP Shane Love said it was “time to admit the state of emergency is over” after 21/2 years.

“It’s become situation normal for the Government to run with those powers, although I don’t think that is a normal situation ... the Premier needs to let go of that power,” he said.

Upper House Liberal MP Nick Goiran this month facilitated a petition to Parliament signed by more than 10,000 people that called for the state of emergency to end.

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