Coronavirus crisis: Premier Mark McGowan’s scathing message for those complaining about forced quarantine in WA hotels

The West Australian
VideoPremier Mark McGowan is urging the Liberal Party to support the legislation going through the parliament to assist in the fight against COVID-19

Premier Mark McGowan has delivered a scathing message to those complaining about their forced quarantine in WA, saying “staying in a hotel for a couple of weeks is a small price to pay” in the fight against COVID-19.

In a Facebook post his afternoon, the Premier took aim at those upset with the State Government’s 14-day mandatory isolation period - where travellers returning to Australia are forced into quarantine in five-star, Government-funded hotels.

“A few days ago, the State and Commonwealth Governments put in new measures to stop further cases of COVID-19 from entering our community as a result of returned travellers,” he said.

“Now, anyone returning from overseas is being forced into quarantine for 14 days when they arrive back in Australia.

“This is mostly occurring in hotels, and at Government expense.

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“We all know there's a lot of hardship going around at the moment.

“Countless members of our community have lost their jobs or their businesses and are facing an uncertain future.

“Let me be clear - people are facing much more severe challenges at the moment than having to stay in a hotel,” he added.

In a press conference earlier today, the Premier labelled reports of Vasco da Gama passengers quarantined in hotels throwing their food into the lobby as “disgusting”.

He stressed the 14-day isolation period was “not meant to be an extra vacation”, but is meant to ensure any possible transmission of the coronavirus into the community was prevented.

“We're all having to make sacrifices in these tough times, staying in a hotel for a couple of weeks is a small price to pay,” Mr McGowan said.

“I don’t care if you don’t like the food, I don’t care if you don’t like what’s on TV.

“You’re going to the hotel, you’re staying there for two weeks, you’re going to be in your room and you’re not bringing the virus home.”

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