May 2, 2021
WELLINGTON (AFP) – New Zealand’s fledgling quarantine-free travel arrangement with Western Australia faced disruption for the second time in eight days yesterday following fresh community cases of COVID-19 in Perth.
A worker at a managed isolation facility in the city and two people he shares accommodation with have tested positive, authorities said.
Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan said the state would not go into lockdown “at this point”.
But New Zealand health ministry officials said they had conducted a “rapid” assessment and had “determined scheduled direct flights from Western Australia to New Zealand should be immediately paused while a further assessment is carried out”.
44 new Covid cases have been recorded in returned travellers in NSW this week
Expert says there are negligent flaws in Australia s hotel quarantine system
Michael Toole says risk of airborne spread of virus needs to be taken seriously
Called for national standard for ventilation in hotels to avoid further outbreaks
Comes after he called for hotel quarantine facilities to be moved out of cities
The art of war talk: Pezzulloâs mixed message has some on edge
Amid tensions between Canberra and Beijing, the wisdom of comments by the Home Affairs Department Secretary that the drums of war are beating is fiercely contested.
Home Affairs Department secretary Michael Pezzullo says the war drums are beating.Â
Alex Ellinghausen
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Departmental secretaries should be seen and not heard. Thatâs the view within some senior elements of the Morrison government after Home Affairs Secretary Michael Pezzulloâs extraordinary Anzac Day message to his departmentâs 15,000 staff warning that âwar drums are beatingâ and Australia needs to prepare to send its âwarriorsâ into battle.
National Cabinet to focus on travel from high-risk countries 30/04/2021|4min
Travel arrangements from high-risk COVID-19 countries will top the agenda today at the National Cabinet meeting after the federal government banned flights from India for at least two weeks.
Anyone wanting to travel to Australia will need to provide a negative PCR test within 72 hours before boarding their flight.
The National Cabinet will also discuss the status of the vaccine rollout.
Meanwhile, some premiers have made it clear to the federal government they want greater support for their quarantine programs.
Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan said he did not want a costly, purpose-built quarantine facility – pointing to federal government properties such as defence facilities or detention facilities on Christmas Island as an alternative.
West Australians will be required to keep wearing face masks indoors for another week after emerging from a Covid-19 lockdown.
Premier Mark McGowan has confirmed some interim restrictions will remain for Perth and the Peel region until 12:01am on Saturday, May 8.
It comes after WA recorded a fifth straight day of no locally acquired cases, having completed a snap long-weekend lockdown.
Masks will not be required outdoors from this Saturday unless physical distancing is not possible, such as at major sporting events.
Face masks will no longer be mandatory outdoors in Perth and the Peel region from Saturday but they will still be compulsory in indoor settings until 12:01am on May 8