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Coronavirus crisis: WA Premier talks borders, building grants, nursing homes, export partners and even Bunnings snags in Q and A

Headshot of Josh Zimmerman
Josh ZimmermanThe West Australian
VideoAlmost 90% of West Aussies support Mark McGowan's hard border closure

Mark McGowan has ruled out backdating the State’s $20,000 grants for new home builds and indicated the hard border with the east would remain in place until at least the end of the July school holidays.

Appearing in an online question and answer session, the Premier said eligibility for WA’s Building Bonus Package had been deliberately timed to coincide with the Commonwealth Government’s HomeBuilder stimulus, which began on June 4.

“No matter what day we select there will always be people who fall outside of it and that's an unfortunate reality of these sorts of things,” Mr McGowan said, adding his initial feedback was there had been a surge in interest for new builds.

“I've been told by Home Builders they're having huge interest now which is great because there's literally about 70,000 people who work in home building and construction across the State,” the Premier said.

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the Premier said eligibility for WA’s Building Bonus Package had been deliberately timed.
Camera Iconthe Premier said eligibility for WA’s Building Bonus Package had been deliberately timed. Credit: Ian Waldie/Getty Images

While refusing to provide a target date for the resumption of travel with the eastern states, Mr McGowan said it was not likely to occur until late July at the very earliest.

“The tourism industry would certainly like (the hard border) to go beyond the school holidays (which end July 19) and I'm pretty sure that's going to happen because it means Western Australians are just booking out our local tourism venues,” he said.

“We have not landed on a date. Not at this point in time, not in the foreseeable future.”

Mr McGowan said interstate travel was unlikely to occur until late July at the very earliest.
Camera IconMr McGowan said interstate travel was unlikely to occur until late July at the very earliest. Credit: Tourism WA/Tourism WA

It is also unlikely children under 16 will be permitted to return to nursing homes to visit their grandparents anytime soon.

“People in nursing homes are the most vulnerable,” Mr McGowan said.

“The older you get, the more vulnerable you are and the hygiene of kids is not as good perhaps as the hygiene of people who are older. I’m sorry, it is an unfortunate one.”

The Premiers said manufacturing in WA “needs to become a bigger focus” and that the State needed to diversify its export partners to reduce reliance on China but stressed the importance of maintaining good relationships with all trading nations.

“We need to diversify our markets and look for where else we can sell our products,” he said.

“But sometimes there is products we sell, for instance iron ore, that there are not many other markets around the world that will buy the amount that we produce.

“So all I'd say to people is we need to keep good trade relationships with everyone.”

Health officials are slated to meet with Crown Perth on Wednesday to discuss the safe re-opening of the casino floor and the Premier said he saw no reason why Bunnings could not bring back its iconic sausage sizzle under Phase Three restrictions.

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