Australia: Officials in Western Australia to ban most travel from New South Wales from 00:01 Dec. 18 /update 46

Event

Western Australia plans to increase the COVID-19 risk level for New South Wales from high to extreme risk from 00:01 Dec. 18 due to rising cases in that state. The Western Australian government will ban most travel from NSW, except federal and state officials, diplomats, specialists, and those with approval from senior Western Australia officials. Permitted travelers must be fully vaccinated, if eligible, obtain a negative COVID-19 test 72 hours or less before departure, quarantine at a state-run quarantine facility for 14 days at their own expense, and undergo testing on specified days.

Domestic Measures
Establishments must collect patrons' contact information; operators can use the SafeWA mobile application or manually collect the data. Police could issue fines for individuals violating contact tracing requirements up to AUD 50,000 and as high as AUD 250,000 for business violations; offenders could also face up to 12 months in jail. Companies must maintain COVID-19 Safety Plans and COVID-19 Event Plans for mass events.

Travel to most remote Aboriginal communities remains restricted throughout the state, though a few areas have partially reopened to visitors.

Domestic Border Controls
All arrivals in Western Australia must complete a G2G Pass declaration to enter. Officials continue health screenings and temperature checks and confirm G2G PASS declarations at Perth Airport (PER) and land border checkpoints.

Authorities have designated Tasmania as very low risk, the Northern Territory and Queensland as low risk, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and South Australia as medium risk, and New South Wales (from Dec. 18) and Victoria as extreme risk. Arrivals from very low-risk states can enter Western Australia without quarantine, while those from low-risk states can enter for any reason provided they are fully vaccinated. Individuals already in Western Australia that visited specified exposure sites in Queensland Dec. 1-13 must self-quarantine for 14 days and undergo tests within 48 hours and on day 12. Authorities ban most travelers from medium-risk areas, though essential travelers can seek entry permission. Approved arrivals must abide by vaccination requirements and obtain a negative result from a COVID-19 test taken 72 hours or less before departure. In addition to medium-risk requirements, travelers from most high-risk locations must use the GWG Now mobile application during their stay. Permitted visitors from low-, medium-, and high-risk locations must self-quarantine for 14 days and undergo testing twice during the period.

Western Australia continues to ban almost all travel from Victoria, except federal and state officials, diplomats, specialists, and those approved by senior Western Australia officials. In addition to meeting high-risk entry requirements, authorized entrants from extreme-risk locations must quarantine at state facilities for 14 days at their own expense and undergo testing on specified days. Repatriating Western Australia residents who only completed quarantine in extreme-risk areas may self-quarantine for 14 days after arriving in Western Australia.

Transport, freight, and logistics (TFL) drivers who have visited high- or extreme-risk locations in the past two weeks must present a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 72 hours before entering Western Australia. Drivers without a recent result must take a rapid antigen test at the border and wait for the result before entering the state; testing is available in Eucla or Kununurra. TFL drivers from low- and medium-risk jurisdictions must present a negative test result taken within the previous five days; individuals without documentation must take a test within 24 hours of arrival. All TFL drivers, except those from very low-risk locations, must avoid indoor public areas and businesses unless necessary for work, medical purposes, or to purchase necessities that cannot be delivered.

International Travel Restrictions
Western Australia requires entrants to quarantine in government-designated facilities for 14 days in the city of arrival. Western Australia charges all arriving travelers, including Australian citizens and permanent residents, for quarantine, payable after the quarantine period. Quarantine fees are AUD 2,520 for one adult or AUD 3,360 for two adults in the same room. Additional people in a party cost AUD 840 per room, except for children under six years old. Individuals must take a COVID-19 test before their release from quarantine.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by government health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Plan for transport disruptions and delivery delays at designated hotspot areas. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions.

Resources

Western Australia Government
Western Australia Department of Health
Western Australia COVID-19 Roadmap
SafeWA