22/06/2020
It has been 16 days since Phase 3 came into effect here in WA and Western Australians have once again been outstanding.
People have enjoyed the new freedoms, supported local businesses and continued to listen to health advice around physical distancing and good personal hygiene.
Thanks to our relaxed restrictions, WA is already the most economically free and active State in Australia.
And today I can announce that as of this Saturday, those restrictions will be easing even further.
In line with expert health advice, Phase 4 will commence this Saturday 27 June.
It will allow even more activities to recommence in WA, and continue to make our State the envy of the nation, and the world.
But before I outline those changes, it's important to acknowledge that our hard border has been in place unashamedly to protect the health and well-being of Western Australians.
It has allowed us to confidently ease restrictions more than any other State and open up our local economy.
Having to reimpose restrictions in WA would be absolutely catastrophic.
I won’t undo the good work of all Western Australians and rush to open the border against our health advice.
As part of Phase 4, from Saturday, the follow changes will occur:
• All existing gathering limits and the 100/300 rule will be removed. Gathering limits will only be determined by WA’s reduced 2sqm capacity rule;
• The 2sqm rule will include staff only at venues that hold more than 500 patrons;
• Removal of seated service requirements at food businesses and licensed premises, meaning Western Australians can once again enjoy a beer while standing at a pub or bar;
• No requirement to maintain patron register at food businesses and licensed premises;
• All events will be permitted except for large scale, multi-stage music festivals;
• Unseated performances will be permitted at venues such as concert halls, live music venues, bars and pubs;
• Gyms can operate unstaffed, but regular cleaning must be maintained; and
• The casino gaming floor reopening under agreed temporary restrictions.
For WA’s major sport and entertainment venues, a 50% capacity rule will apply. Therefore, under Phase 4 the temporary capacity of Optus Stadium will be 30,633 for sport events (35,000 for concerts), HBF Park can hold 10,150 (16,500 for concerts), RAC Arena can hold 7,150 (8,250 for concerts).
Today we've also outlined Phase 5 of easing restrictions - which is expected to take effect on Saturday 18 July.
Phase 5 will include removing ALL State restrictions except for the hard border with the eastern states and travel restrictions for remote Aboriginal communities.
That will include the removal of the 2sqm rule and the 50% capacity rule for our major venues.
This will be a significant moment for our State.
Phase 4 is another giant step for WA – we’re confident it’s the right step, at the right time.
However, Western Australians must continue to keep up physical distancing where possible and good personal hygiene to better protect themselves and the general health of our community.
We need to remain vigilant. We must take nothing for granted.
We need to all understand that if you are unwell, don’t try be a hero and still go to work. It’s simply not worth it.
Because if we have an uncontrolled outbreak, we will have to place restrictions back on.
And I cannot be clearer on this – I don’t want to even contemplate that scenario.
