No jab, no fly: WA makes vaccination mandatory for travellers from NSW

Western Australia has doubled down on its hardline approach to the 'eastern states' – beginning with New South Wales – by requiring that any traveller visiting from NSW must be vaccinated against Covid-19.

The new border rules will also apply to any other state or territory which WA classifies as being high-risk or extreme-risk.

From Tuesday August 17, the only visitors allowed in from NSW will need to show proof of having at least their first Covid-19 jab, as well as a negative result from a coronavirus test taken in the previous 72 hours.

"These are tough measures but they are necessary to protect the state," WA Premier Mark McGowan said.

"Our hard border arrangements must reflect [the situation in New South Wales] and reduce the risk to West Australians."

But McGowan doesn't expect WA will be going it alone in introducing the sort of entry controls previously associated with travel to another country.

"I think this is actually a template for other states to look at, should they want to put in place measures to protect themselves from the raging outbreak in New South Wales," he suggested.

WA will also add a new 'extreme-risk' category for states and territories recording 500 new cases a day – compared to 50 new cases a day for the 'high-risk' category – with visitors from 'extreme-risk' states and territories having to enter hotel quarantine

Read: How to add your Covid-19 vaccination card to Apple Wallet or Google Pay

David Flynn

David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.