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Western Australia has cancelled its annual royal show and postponed phase five restrictions for another two months in a bid to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The royal show had been due to start on September 26, with half a million people typically attending the week-long event.
Premier Mark McGowan said he had received advice it would be too risky to stage the show given the inability to track and trace attendees and the difficulty associated with keeping surfaces clean.
“Obviously this news will be disappointing for many families, for many businesses and many regional communities,” he said on Tuesday.
“I hated doing this. It’s sad because the royal show is such a great event. I was looking forward to taking my own children.”
Phase five restrictions are now due to come into place on October 24 – the same date earmarked for the AFL grand final.
Under phase five, crowds at Optus Stadium will be allowed to double to 60,000 and the two square metre rule will be removed, although the state’s hard border arrangements will remain in place.
Queensland remains favourite to host the grand final, but Western Australia continues to be linked to the flagship event.
“I don’t know what date the grand final is scheduled for – I’m not sure they know exactly what date it is,” Mr McGowan said.
“The grand final is one of those things I get asked a lot about … but it’s not our main priority.”
The premier said he had “no knowledge” of the state making an offer of up to $35 million to claim hosting rights.
He said WA chief health officer Andy Robertson had advised the government he does not expect Victoria to bring its second wave under control for two months.
One new case was recorded in WA overnight with a woman in her 20s testing positive after returning from overseas.
The state has five active cases, all in hotel quarantine.
Two women from South Australia who breached quarantine after being refused entry to Western Australia have meanwhile been taken into custody.
Police say the women, aged 19 and 22, arrived in Perth on a flight from Adelaide on Monday night intending to holiday and visit family.
They were directed to quarantine at the Novotel Hotel in Perth until return flights could be arranged.
But it’s alleged the women, who had not applied to enter the state, left the hotel early on Tuesday and caught a taxi to a unit block in Coolbellup.
They have each been charged with failing to comply with a direction under the Emergency Management Act and will face Perth Magistrates Court.
Acting police commissioner Gary Dreibergs said the pair had not been tested for COVID-19 but the health department had advised they did not pose a significant health risk.
Mr McGowan said the government was seeking advice on whether to force federal MPs to quarantine upon returning from upcoming parliamentary sittings.
But a ban on school leavers celebrations was unlikely to be on the cards.
Australian Associated Press
