Western Australia will transition away from a State of Emergency, marking a major milestone in the State’s successful management of a once-in-one-hundred-year global pandemic.
The State of Emergency in Western Australia will come to an end on Friday (4 November) after 963 days, as the State of Emergency declaration will not be renewed.
The Public Health State of Emergency, under the Public Health Act 2016, will also be revoked at the same time.
Western Australia’s strong health outcomes mean WA is exceptionally well placed to move into the next stage of the pandemic.
Following the end of the State of Emergency, the McGowan Government will continue to manage COVID-19 and keep Western Australians safe through appropriate policy settings, the WA Free RAT program and maintaining systems and procedures that allow for the swift re-establishment of testing and vaccination clinics, if required.
Basic public health advice such as mask wearing as needed, staying home if unwell, getting tested and avoiding high-risk settings until symptoms have cleared are highly recommended, and these measures can be adopted as a requirement through businesses’ own policies and work health and safety arrangements.
As part of the transition away from a State of Emergency, the State Parliament passed new legislation this month, which provides a fit-for-purpose framework for WA to safely manage COVID-19 in the future, should the virus escalate and require additional levers to protect the WA community.
The Emergency Management Amendment (Temporary COVID-19 Provisions) Bill 2022 has received Royal Assent and regulations are being drawn up for the new laws.
Under the new framework, if required, the State Emergency Coordinator can make a ‘Temporary COVID-19 Declaration’, which will only come into effect if the State Emergency Coordinator is satisfied that COVID-19 poses a risk to the safety of the community, and requires a co-ordinated response to prevent loss of life or harm to the health of the community.
If required, the framework can be used to implement measures such as mask wearing on public transport and in other settings, isolation requirements for individuals, enhanced cruise ship protocols and prohibitions to remote Aboriginal communities.
Western Australia’s management of the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in very strong health and economic outcomes, and its world-leading response sets it apart from the rest of the country and the world.
This is evident in WA securing some of the world’s highest vaccination rates and a strong economy which remained opened during the pandemic, allowing for businesses to keep operating and retain local jobs.
The McGowan Government has announced it will commission an independent review of WA’s response and management of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The independent review will ensure preparedness for future pandemics by considering programs and structures that performed effectively and identifying any areas for continuous improvement.
Further details of the review will be announced before the end of the year, and the report will support Western Australia’s input into any future Commonwealth-led review of the pandemic.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
“The past two and a half years have been unprecedented – however what Western Australians showed was we can get through it no matter how difficult, and land some outstanding achievements along the way.
“Our health and economic outcomes are testament to what Western Australians achieved together in the face of adversity – a once-in-one-hundred-year pandemic.
“Our high vaccination rates and the way we managed the pandemic through public health measures, border controls and strong testing and isolation regimes meant we significantly reduced hospitalisations, ICU admittances, deaths and the severity of COVID in the community.
“WA’s response also secured some of the strongest economic outcomes, by allowing businesses to continue operating and keeping Western Australians in jobs.
“The end of the State of Emergency and Public Health State of Emergency marks a significant milestone in the management of the pandemic and I thank all Western Australians for their efforts, patience and co-operation.
“However, COVID remains in the community and the best way we can all help manage it is by following the most basic but vital public health advice like staying home when you’re unwell, wearing a mask as you need, getting tested and keeping up normal hygiene practices.”
As stated by Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson:
“We acknowledge that it is now time to move away from the State of Emergency, and our new laws, should they be required, also puts us in the best position to continue protecting Western Australians and managing COVID-19 in an appropriate manner.
“These laws provide a more appropriate framework to manage COVID-19 in WA’s current environment which does not allow for the closure of State borders or require an application to enter Western Australia from any other State or Territory.
“I have been given advice from the State Emergency Coordinator that on the advice of the Chief Health Officer there won’t be a need to extend the State emergency declaration past 4 November.
“Ending the State of Emergency acknowledges how far we have come since the beginning of the pandemic, and I thank Western Australians for continuing to play their part in keeping themselves and others safe.”
As stated by Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:
“The world changed significantly when COVID-19 was officially declared a pandemic, but thanks to your co-operation and the outstanding work of our healthcare workers, the impact of COVID on our State has been comparatively contained.
“I’d like to thank everyone who played a role in our management of COVID-19, including our phenomenal healthcare workers, and the public for doing their part to keep each other safe.
“Our incredible outcomes would not have been possible without the work of those on our healthcare frontlines, as well as the people working behind-the-scenes at the Department of Health, and without the co-operation and faith of the people of Western Australia.
“It is important we continue to protect the most vulnerable people in our community which is why we are retaining sensible and appropriate measures at high-risk settings such as hospitals.”
