As election looms, WA Premier Mark McGowan closes in on the civil liberties he once defended smh.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from smh.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Perth Lockdown Day 4 Recap: No New Cases, Post-Lockdown Plan Announcement Tonight
Today was a quiet day and then a busy day on the Perth COVID-19 front.
Earlier today Mark McGowan announced Western Australia had again recorded zero new local COVID-19 cases overnight, providing promising signs that Perth could come out of full lockdown on Friday after four consecutive days of zero local cases.
A total of over 37,000 tests have been conducted over the duration of the Perth lockdown to date with still 0 new cases identified.
Though Mr McGowan was quick to point out that things won’t be back straight away.
Date Time
Statement from Government of Western Australia
Premier Mark McGowan this afternoon advised the Honourable Kim Beazley AC, Governor of Western Australia, to issue the writs for the State election on Saturday March 13, 2021.
The writs direct the Electoral Commissioner to proceed with elections in all Legislative Assembly districts and Legislative Council regions.
As part of Western Australia’s fixed-term elections, it is a legislative requirement for the writs to be issued today.
The Premier has also directed the Acting Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to implement the Caretaker Conventions across the WA public sector.
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Election writs have been issued but campaigning is still on hold as Perth confronts a bushfire that has destroyed more than 70 homes and much of WAâs population faces two more days of a COVID-induced lockdown.
Premier Mark McGowan visited Government House on Wednesday to ask Governor Kim Beazley to issue the writs for the election.
WA Governor Kim Beazley and Premier Mark McGowan meet for the issuing of the election writs.
Credit:WA Government
Mr McGowan said in a statement on his Facebook page it might seem like a strange thing for the government to go into caretaker mode when there was a natural disaster, pandemic, and election campaign suspension.