With case numbers sky-rocketing in Australia's eastern states due to the criminal 'let it rip' attitude of those state governments, it has become increasingly urgent that we do everything in our power to avoid this scenario here in WA. Today (December 17) NSW recorded the highest ever number of daily cases at 2,213, this is predicted to reach 25,000 cases by January. While the Delta strain runs rampant, the introduction of the Omicron variant should be approached with serious concern given its rapid spread in other parts of the world. 

Throughout the pandemic, Mark McGowan's tougher stance on lockdowns and keeping the border closed has clearly kept covid-19 out of WA, preventing the sorts of avoidable deaths and illness that we have seen in other states. 

McGowan's decision to open the borders on February 5 is a reckless capitulation to the argument that we have no choice but to 'live with the virus' coming from the likes of Dominic Perrottet, Scott Morrison, and Daniel Andrews. Our hospitals are woefully underfunded and unprepared. We still do not have fit for purpose quarantine facilities. Indigenous communities are vaccinated at atrociously low levels. No children under 12 will be fully vaccinated by the currently proposed date for reopening. No vaccine is approved for children under 5. There has been no serious mobilization of resources to ensure adequate ventilation and carbon dioxide monitoring in all venues, public and private. These issues should not be swept aside by the WA government.

Public health and the prevention of avoidable deaths should be a priority. The lives of the most vulnerable people in society should not be put at risk. We therefore call on Mark McGowan to reverse the decision to open WA's borders on February 5 and keep them closed until it is safe to open them, taking into consideration the previously mentioned issues.