State Election 2021: McGowan backs down on post-pandemic G2G plan, but still wants cops stationed along border

Mark McGowan has ruled out maintaining the G2G pass system beyond the end of the pandemic, backing away from commentary earlier in the day that suggested the Premier wanted to permanently require interstate travellers to disclose their personal details prior to arriving in WA. Shortly after casting his ballot at an early voting centre this morning, Mr McGowan told reporters border restrictions introduced in response to COVID-19 had contributed to a “dramatic” decline in drug use. He said he was speaking with Police Commissioner Chris Dawson about continuing some border measures — including having officers stationed at roads entering WA — beyond the end of the pandemic. Asked to clarify if border searches and “tracking” of arrivals were options — through the continued use of the G2G pass — the Premier replied: “These are the sorts of conversations I have with the Commissioner.” But a few hours later — after WA Liberal leader Zak Kirkup labelled the plan an “immense overreach” — Mr McGowan struck a different tone. “The G2G pass, once the pandemic is over, we don't intend to extend its use,” the Premier said from Kalgoorlie. “That was very much directed to ensuring that if someone comes into our State we have the ability to contact them. “It doesn't actually allow us to track someone's mobile phone, which I think is a bit of a misunderstanding. Obviously, the G2G pass system will end when the pandemic ends.” Mr McGowan said he remained in favour of keeping police stationed along WA’s land border to check for drugs “in addition to the agriculture staff who check for vegetables and fruit”. The back down came after Mr Kirkup blasted the suggestion the G2G system be made permanent and accused Mr McGowan of wanting to “track” every Australian visiting WA. “He wants to make sure they all carry G2G passes for being tracked,” Mr Kirkup said. “That's not how it's happened for the majority of the history of Australia. We have been free to travel across our country.” After last week pivoting his key campaign message to warning against Labor being handed “total control” of Parliament, Mr Kirkup seized on the Premier’s comments as an example of the kind of measure only a strong opposition could prevent. “How many more ideas like this does Labor have?” Mr Kirkup said. “Today the Premier announces that he wants to continue the hard border after COVID-19. “Tomorrow, it might be that you start patting down every person that comes into the State. By the end of the week it could be strip searches — who knows.” While WA’s hard border last year withstood a High Court challenge launched by Queensland billionaire Clive Palmer, constitutional law expert Anne Twomey said protecting against meth importation was an entirely different prospect to protecting against a deadly virus. “Obviously drugs can result in damage to people’s health and also loss of life so that does need to be taken into account,” the University of Sydney Professor of constitutional law said. “But equally, people have to choose to take the drugs. It is unlike COVID in that respect. “Drug (use) is not something that just spreads and there is no choice at all in whether or not you catch it. The risks involved are different in nature.” Professor Twomey said imposing a burden on entry into WA raised clear constitutional issues and — as was proved in the Palmer case — would only be permitted if viewed as “reasonably necessary” and “proportionate” in the circumstances.