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Premier warns WA is ‘heading in the direction’ of making Covid-19 vaccination compulsory for travellers entering the state

Angie RaphaelNCA NewsWire
Premier Mark McGowan has given a stark warning to travellers. Picture Jackson Flindell/The West Australian
Camera IconPremier Mark McGowan has given a stark warning to travellers. Picture Jackson Flindell/The West Australian Credit: The West Australian

An administrative error has been blamed for a government website indicating Covid-19 vaccination will soon be compulsory for travellers entering Western Australia, but the Premier warns it is the direction the state is heading.

Under a frequently asked questions section on the WA Health website, it said: “From Monday 15 November all travellers from very low risk jurisdictions will be required to be fully vaccinated.”

The website added: “WA is the first jurisdiction to introduce this type of measure.”

Currently, only travellers from jurisdictions classified as “high” and “extreme” risk, which are NSW and Victoria, must show proof of at least one dose to enter WA, but according to the post online it would soon apply to everyone.

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Premier Mark McGowan said the information on the website was incorrect.

Premier Mark McGowan has given a stark warning to travellers. Picture Jackson Flindell/The West Australian
Camera IconPremier Mark McGowan has given a stark warning to travellers. Picture Jackson Flindell/The West Australian Credit: The West Australian

“That’s not correct at this point in time, but that’s obviously the way all the states are moving,” he told ABC radio on Thursday.

Asked if it had been published too early, Mr McGowan said: “There’s been some administrative mistakes but that’s certainly the broad direction we’re heading.

“Currently, anyone coming in from NSW or Victoria, that is the requirement. In the future, that’s the direction we’re heading.

“If you want to go overseas, get vaccinated. If you want to travel, get vaccinated. That’s basically the way the entire country is going.”

A state government spokesperson later added that the document uploaded to the website was incorrect.

“The reference made to travel and vaccination requirements was an administrative error,” they said.

“The state government does not currently have health advice or legal advice for this requirement to be in place.

“However, we urge everyone to get vaccinated, and vaccine travel requirements is something that will eventually come into place to help limit the spread of Covid-19.”

It was announced on Wednesday that the vaccine would soon be mandatory for 75 per cent of the state’s workforce.

Originally published as Premier warns WA is ‘heading in the direction’ of making Covid-19 vaccination compulsory for travellers entering the state

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