Western Australia to reopen borders in March
Western Australia plans to reopen to international visitors from March 3, making it the final Australian state to ease its border controls.
The rest of Australia will reopen to international arrivals on Monday (February 21) for the first time in almost two years amid the pandemic.
Western Australia had initially planned to reopen in February but delayed the move last month because of the rising numbers of the Omicron variant of Covid-19.
International travellers to Western Australia must be fully vaccinated and take a lateral flow test within 12 hours of their arrival and report any positive result.
They must also apply for an online G2G Pass, which is a mandatory registration and declaration form.
Unvaccinated returning Australians will be required to complete hotel quarantine.
The state expects 70% of its population over 16 will have received a third dose of the Covic vaccination by March 3.
Western Australia premier Mark McGowan said: “We held back Omicron as much as we could, and this time bought us the best chance to vaccinate our children and bring the third dose rate up as high as we can.”
Earlier this week, Qantas said it will keep flying double-daily direct flights from London to Australia via Darwin following “ongoing uncertainty” around the reopening of Western Australia’s borders.
The service had been due to return to Perth in April.
Pictured: Charles Knife Gorge, Cape Range National Park, Western Australia
More: Qantas continues Darwin route amid ‘uncertainty’ over Western Australia reopening
