This week we will finally see some changes to Restrictions in WA, with the announcement of Level 2 restrictions being eased from 31st March.
Unfortunately, these revised restrictions, set to be implemented this week, do not go far enough to ensure a smooth transition for all Western Australians. While it is good to see the State Government increase capacity limits on large-scale venues like Optus Stadium, small businesses, such as cafes and restaurants, are forced to abide by the 2 square meter rule.
My friend and colleague, the Shadow Treasurer, Hon Steve Thomas MLC, has highlighted that the 2 square meter rule will continue to force small businesses to operate at less capacity than is required, which will see more of them suffering financial distress. The continuing restrictions are also having an adverse effect on other sectors, such as the construction industry, without an obvious public health benefit.
The fact is the McGowan Government should be focusing on the number of hospitalisations when making the rules on restrictions, not case numbers. The purpose of the restrictions is to prevent hospitals being overwhelmed. They will not substantially reduce the total number of people catching Covid. The restrictions need to reflect actual hospitalisation numbers, not modelled numbers.
Hospitalisation numbers are less than half the modelled peak. We need to start to relax restrictions as we learn to live with COVID. We cannot remain locked up as the world moves on, particularly when the virus’ effect on our health has thankfully been much less than feared.
Last week we also saw the release on the long-awaited Review into the 2021 Christmas Blackouts, overseen by Blackout Bill Johnston. Despite the Minister for Energy’s assertions, the grid has not been sufficiently improved since Labor came to office. This is highlighted by a $368 million dollar underspend in capital improvements since 2017, when WA Labor came into power. The failure to improve the system was witnessed by the 107,000 Western Australians who suffered blackouts over the Christmas/New Year period. Keeping the lights on is a key responsibility for any Government. While Minister Johnston says he’s “sorry” for his blackouts, he still pretends the reasons they occurred weren’t within his control.
This is a common pattern of behaviour for the McGowan Labor Government – a Premier and Cabinet Ministers who are incapable of managing their Departments or accepting responsibility for failures. They do not believe that they are accountable to the Parliament and the people of Western Australia. The McGowan Labor Government is the most secretive government in the history of the State. They hide behind managing Covid while critical aspects of our society are ignored – record violent crime, child welfare in chaos, a growing public housing crisis and related homelessness.
I look forward to continuing to update you on the work the WA Liberal team is doing and updating you on the things McGowan and his spin team won’t dare tell you.
Dr David Honey MLA
WA Liberal Leader & Member for Cottesloe
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