Based on the latest health advice, a hard border will be introduced with Tasmania and the Northern Territory from 12.01am Sunday, December 26.
Travel from these jurisdictions will not be permitted unless a person is an approved traveller.
The exemption list is limited to certain senior Government officials, certain active military personnel, a member of the Commonwealth Parliament, a person carrying out functions under a law of the Commonwealth, a person carrying out a limited range of specialist functions and a person given approval by the State Emergency Coordinator or an authorised officer.
Any Western Australian who has recently travelled to Tasmania or the Northern Territory is eligible to return under compassionate grounds and must apply through the G2G Pass system.
Approved travellers arriving in WA from 12.01am Sunday, December 26, 2021 via Tasmania or the Northern Territory must:
- be double dose vaccinated against COVID-19 if eligible;
- provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test 72 hours prior to departure;
- self-quarantine in a suitable premise for 14 days;
- present for an initial COVID-19 test within 48 hours;
- present for a COVID-19 test if any symptoms develop during quarantine; and
- present for a COVID-19 test on day 12 after arrival in WA.
It is important that recent travellers from these jurisdictions familiarise themselves with the latest exposure sites reported by Tasmania Health and Northern Territory Health.
Anyone who has not been to these sites but develops any symptoms or is experiencing any symptoms, even mild, that could be related to COVID-19, is advised to get tested and quarantine until they return a negative test.
WA's border arrangements are enacted under the Emergency Management Act and failure to follow these directions will be enforceable by law with penalties ranging from $1,000 infringements to up to $50,000 fines for individuals.
More information on WA's controlled borders is available at https://www.wa.gov.au
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
"With growing COVID-19 case numbers, based on the latest health advice a hard border will come into place with Tasmania and Northern Territory from Sunday.
"I strongly encourage all Western Australians in Tasmania and Northern Territory to come home now - please don't delay.
"Western Australians who have recently travelled to these jurisdictions can return under compassionate grounds under the G2G Pass system.
"Western Australia is safe and is now the only place in the country that is currently not dealing with an outbreak of COVID-19.
"We need to do all we can to keep WA safe as our vaccination rate continues to climb towards safe coverage levels of 90 per cent, double dose, for those 12 and older."
As stated by Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:
"COVID-19 is spreading quickly throughout the country, with more hospitalisations and ICU admissions, except here in WA.
"Our controlled border arrangements have kept WA safe, but they won't be in place forever, from February 5 borders will ease and inevitably COVID-19 will enter the community.
"That's why it's so important that before February 5 we get as many Western Australians vaccinated as possible.
"If you haven't yet got yourself vaccinated - don't delay. Vaccines are safe and effective and could save your life or the life of a family member.
"State-run COVID-19 vaccination clinics are open across WA and no appointment is necessary - visit rollupforwa.com.au to find out where you can get vaccinated as soon as possible."
