As of midnight on April 5 2020, Western Australia is closed to arrivals, with some specific exceptions.
The "harder border closure" was flagged at the beginning of the week by Premier Mark McGowan, who acknowledged the new restrictions would be frustrating and messy.
"No one from over east will be allowed entry into Western Australia unless you're an approved exempt traveller. I can't stress this enough; you must be exempt. Otherwise, you'll be turned around," Mr McGowan told the media today.
"What we're doing is working, but this is a marathon, not a sprint, and we're still heading into the storm, not out of it," said Mr McGowan.
After tonight's deadline, those entering Western Australia will be required to submit the WA Government Border Arrivals Form.
The only people still allowed to enter the state under specific exemptions includes:
- health services
- emergency service workers
- transport, freight and logistics
- specialist skills, not available in WA
- national or state security and governance
- courts and legal services
- compassionate grounds
FIFO workers and their families will be allowed to enter WA; however, they will be ordered to self-isolate for 14 days when they first enter the state.
Any Western Australians who are in isolation on the eastern states will have to isolate for a further 14 days upon arrival in WA.
An application for special exemptions, which will include compassionate grounds, will have to be submitted before entering.
Anyone caught breaching the new restrictions faces fines up to $50,000.
There is no timeline for how long the restrictions will be in place.
