WA plans to use electronic monitoring for people deemed a flight risk in quarantine

The state's premier says people with criminal records or those considered high risk for escaping the hotel quarantine system could soon be monitored electronically.

Passengers arriving at Perth International Airport are sent into hotel quarantine. Source: AAP

The Premier of Western Australia says his government could soon force people in hotel quarantine to wear electronic monitoring equipment if they are deemed a "flight risk". 

Mark McGowan said those deemed to be at greater risk of breaching quarantine could also be forced to stay in a higher-security hotel.

Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan. Source: AAP

“If we identify people who are potential flight risks or who might have a criminal history, we are looking at applying monitoring bracelets to them,” he said.

“So what that means is if someone is identified as a risk, we have the legal power now to put an ankle bracelet on, that’s what police will look to do.

“We may well have one hotel that has the people who are identified as a flight risk or danger, that they are specially kept in during their period of quarantine, and there may well be beefed-up security in this specific hotel."

In April, the state amended its Emergency Management Act to expand the police's powers to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

When those amendments were passed, WA Police spent $3 million obtaining 200 electronic ankle bracelets with GPS tracking capability.

This week, WA Police charged two women who allegedly entered the state without permission and left their designated quarantine hotel.

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If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.

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