Pilbara travellers urged to be COVID safe

Port Hedland International Airport is reminding passengers of their responsibility to keep WA safe amid concerns flyers are not abiding by mask rules at the terminal.

PHIA general manager Rod Evans said though “very few” people were breaking the rules, it was essential flyers follow mandated health advice.

The alarm was raised at a council meeting last fortnight when councillor Jan Gillingham alerted fellow councillors to a lack of mask wearing and mask supplies at the international terminal.

She said more needed to be done to clarify rules around mask wearing and stressed the need for safety whilst travelling.

The wearing of face masks is mandated by the State Government under the direction of the WA Health Act as announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Town of Port Hedland Mayor Peter Carter said the Town was not responsible for the provision of masks and urged individuals to take more responsibility.

“PHIA does not have a mask wearing policy as it is not required by PHIA (and) PHIA have a limited number of masks at the screening point as a last point of call only,” he said.

“It is the individual who has the responsibility to supply and wear a mask under the State Government directions under the WA Health Act.

“In relation to the matter of masks supply, PHIA has no control over the check in and boarding process by any airline. This is a matter for the airline concerned and their staff and or agents/contractors.”

Port Hedland Police officer in charge Senior Sergeant Steve Cleal urged locals to take responsibility in a recent Facebook post.

“We are policing these (COVID-19) directions with the sole intention of keeping us all safe,” he said.