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COVID-19: Update from WALGA President and CEO
 
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
WALGA
4 September 2020

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WA Maintains Border Closure Stance at National Cabinet
National Cabinet met today with the easing of border restrictions the main item for discussion.
The Commonwealth and all States and Territories except Western Australia agreed in-principle to develop a new plan for Australia to reopen by Christmas, including the use of the hotspot concept for travel between jurisdictions. National Cabinet noted that Western Australia has specific circumstances which mean that it will not subscribe to the reopening plan and timetable, but that it will continue to participate in discussions on its development.
 
Speaking at his media conference after the National Cabinet meeting the Prime Minister said:
Western Australia has a very different border and a very different economy than most of the other States and Territories where these decisions have been made. There are not large border towns. In fact, to the best of my knowledge, there are virtually none along the Western Australian border. Their economy is of a much greater scale than the South Australian and the Tasmanian economies. So, they will watch carefully, they will look on, and the thing about our new way of working in National Cabinet is the door always remains open. And they are always able to join us at a subsequent time. And I believe there are many things they can offer in that process. So, they are not standing completely separate for that process. They will continue to work with us. But, for them, they have got their path set, and we respect that.
 
The Premier reiterated these comments, saying:
It was a productive discussion but I made it clear that Western Australia will not be agreeing to a hot spot model or a hot spot definition which replaces our successful border controls. Western Australia has always avoided setting an arbitrary deadline on borders. A date will be set when our health advice recommends it, but that might be some time away. We went through this before and then Victoria happened. Opening and closing borders just causes more confusion and it isn't a good outcome for the State's economy.
 
Mr McGowan went on to highlight the positive economic benefits that have resulted from the State's decision not to open the State border including growing business confidence, and retail trade figures released today, which showed trade grew by 3.8 per cent in July with a record $3.4 billion spend.
 
Other outcomes from National Cabinet included:
  • agreement to boost the capacity for international arrivals where possible
  • that Emergency Management Australia would convene Commonwealth, State and Territory authorities to ensure a seamless arrangement for the movement of emergency personnel between states and territories in a COVIDSafe and timely manner during the upcoming high risk weather season, and
  • the adoption of a National Agricultural Workers’ Code by NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Northern Territory and the ACT with Western Australia, Queensland and Tasmania to consider the Code as part of their border restriction arrangements.
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The Premier’s press conference can be viewed here.
 
The Prime Minister's National Cabinet media release and transcript can be viewed here.
 
Declaration Extensions
The State Government has issued a number of directions to bring into effect an extension of the current State of Emergency and Public Health State of Emergency and to provider greater detail around quarantine, isolation and testing requirements.
The State of Emergency in WA has been extended until 12:00am, Thursday, 17 September. View the declaration here

The WA Public Health State of Emergency has been extended until Wednesday, 16 September. View the declaration here.

An Omnibus Amendment to Directions has been released that contains amendments applied to the following existing directions:
  • Presentation for Testing Directions (No.4)
  • Chevron FIFO Worker Directions
  • Woodside FIFO Worker Directions
  • Isolation (Diagnosed) Directions
  • Quarantine and Isolation (Undiagnosed) Directions
  • Quarantine (Closing the Border) Direction
  • Remote Aboriginal Communities Directions No.3
Of particular note is changes to the definition of COVID-19 ‘symptoms’ to mean:
  • a fever of 37.5 degrees or above; or
  • a recent history of fever; or
  • symptoms of acute respiratory infection (including but without limitation, shortness of breath, a cough or sore throat); or
  • loss of smell or loss of taste
The declaration can be viewed here.
All current State of Emergency Directions are available here.
 
Local Government COVID-19 Recovery Impact Survey 
The State Recovery Coordinator is requesting Local Governments complete a survey on their COVID-19 recovery progress.
This request follows a previous survey conducted in June 2020 which informed the Local Government COVID-19 Recovery Impact Report provided to the State Recovery Controller and the State Recovery Steering Committee in developing the WA Impact Statement and WA Recovery Plan.
 
Surveys will be conducted regularly to inform the State Recovery Controller and the Public Sector Leadership Council on Local Governments’ recovery progress, successes and key emerging issues.
 
This particular survey focusses on new impacts, unintended consequences, both positive and negative, and preseason preparedness.

Local Government staff who are overseeing the delivery of COVID-19 activities and 2020/21 preseason preparedness are encouraged to complete the survey by COB Monday, 14 September.
 
A PDF version of the survey can be accessed here for ease of collating data. Please enter all responses into the Survey Monkey link.
 
Local Governments are encouraged to also email a copy of their survey response as well as any other impact or recovery data and information to WALGA COVID-19 Response and Recovery Lead, Nicole Matthews.
 
This will enable the Association to better understand the sector’s experiences and identify opportunities to assist Member Councils in their response through operational support and advocacy.
For more information on the survey, call Acting Manager Recovery Emergency Management, Department of Fire and Emergency Services, Liz Toohey on 9395 9880.
WALGA
ONE70, LV1, 170 Railway Parade,
West Leederville, WA 6007
PO Box 1544, West Perth, WA 6872
Tel: (08) 9213 2000 | Fax: (08) 9213 2077
Email: info@walga.asn.au
www.walga.asn.au
© Copyright Western Australian Local Government Association 2014






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WALGA · ONE70, Level 1, Railway Parade · West Leederville, WA 6007 · Australia