Category: mark mcgowan

Restaurant Owner Reportedly Arrested During Staff Vaccination Check by WA Police

Western Australia (WA) Police have reportedly arrested a family restaurant’s owner and her daughter after they allegedly refused to allow police to enter the premises and check the vaccination status of staff, according to witnesses on the scene. WA has one of the broadest proof of vaccination requirements in the nation, with both staff and…


New Measures as Western Australia Enters ‘High COVID Caseload’

The Western Australia (WA) government has entered its next phase of the pandemic and unlocked new measures that had been drawn up in preparation for when the state reached a high COVID-19 caseload environment. Cases in WA have continued to climb, with the government pulling the trigger on Feb. 7 as the state records 265…


Unvaccinated Lawyers Locked Out Of Courts, Unable to Fight Mandates in Western Australia

The Western Australia (WA) government has banned unvaccinated lawyers and all other staff from attending courtrooms, prompting anger from some law experts who believe the directions fundamentally inhibit justice. Under the order of the WA chief health officer, from Feb. 5, all court and tribunal staff—including lawyers and jurors—will need to have received at least…


Omicron Threatens Western Australia’s Mining Industry

Western Australia’s (WA) economic lifeblood is hanging in the balance with a growing number of mining workers forced to isolate amid the spread of Omicron in the state. Around 80 workers at mining giant BHP’s Yandi iron ore mine in the Pilbara are isolated and awaiting test results after being identified as close contacts to…


‘Uphill Battle’: Perth Business Shuts After 26 Years Over Vaccine Mandate

Gareth and Tracy Wall held their breath as they hit publish on the social media post that would tell the community they were shutting the doors of their Australian business due to vaccine mandates. After 26 years, the Walls admitted that it was a “rush decision” to close the Hangout Indoor Rock-Climbing Centre in Perth,…


International Students Allowed Into Western Australia Despite Border Closure

The Western Australia (WA) government has backflipped on its strict border closure to grant exemptions for returning international students to enter the state, while Australians from other states are still locked out. This comes after WA Premier Mark McGowan shelved his plan to reopen the state’s borders on Feb. 5 citing the threat of the…


West Australian Schools Use Masks, Air Purifiers To Combat Omicron

A flood of nearly 477,000 students will return to schools in Western Australia (WA) on Monday, Jan. 31, bringing with it a slew of new requirements aimed at controlling the spread of the Omicron variant of the CCP virus. High school students and all staff in WA will be required to wear masks upon returning…


How the West Was Lost

Commentary The Premier of Western Australia (WA), Mark McGowan, has reneged on his promise to re-open the state borders to the rest of Australia (and the world) on Feb. 5. To justify the continuation of his policy of closed borders, McGowan has expressed concern over the Omicron COVID-19 variant. “Unfortunately, the world changed in December; Omicron arrived….


‘On the Brink of Tears’: WA Border Backflip Leaves Aussie Couple ‘Homeless’

Karen and Mike Malherbe expected to move Western Australia (WA) next month and reunite with their family for the first time in three years. But meeting their first grandchild, and welcoming their second, now seems to be on hold for the foreseeable future. The couple had already sold their home in Illawarra, New South Wales…


WA Premier Has to ‘Explain’ His Decision for the Border Restrictions: Federal MPs

Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Defence Minister Peter Dutton have asked the Western Australian Premier Mark McGown to please “explain” his decisions following the announcement that WA’s border will remain closed 16 days prior to the original open date of Feb. 5. Frydenberg said on Friday that many Western Australians will be questioning this decision…