Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan says he will again be raising the issue of mandatory vaccinations at a national level for interstate truck drivers, after two NSW truck drivers tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival in WA.
"I am very keen for it to be introduced as soon as possible," he said.
The truck drivers from NSW had travelled through Victoria and South Australia on their way to Western Australia.
They were tested as part of routine surveillance in NSW on Wednesday, but being essential workers were allowed to embark on their journey through Victoria and South Australia to WA, where they arrived on Thursday night.
They received their test results on Friday and their employer informed WA Health.
'Risk to community is very low'
WA Premier Mark McGowan said the risk to the WA community is low as the cases were quickly identified.
Contact tracers have identified 20 close and casual contacts who are in isolation.
"Our health advisors have indicated that the risk from the two truck drivers is very low," Mr McGowan said.
"What we don't want is to have outbreaks here and we'll do everything we can to prevent that from occurring.
"They have done nothing wrong and indeed when they learnt that they were COVID positive they notified the relevant people immediately – so the system itself has worked and I'd like to thank those truck drivers for what they've done."
Seven exposure sites in Western Australia
Public health alerts have already been issued in WA for a BP Truckstop in Norseman, the IOR Petroleum Fuel Station in Widgiemooltha, the Shell Fuel Station in Southern Cross, and the Mobil roadhouse in Yellowdine.
Anyone who visited the venues during the listed times must get tested and isolate for 14 days, but broader restrictions have not been introduced in the state.
The testing regime that caught the men's infection, but also allowed them to travel with a test result pending, has been successful nation-wide during the pandemic, Mr McGowan said.
The announcement came after Friday's national cabinet meeting, at which the WA premier defended his refusal to agree to drop borders once the nation achieved 70 per cent vaccination coverage.
"The whole idea that at 70 per cent vaccination you deliberately infect people, I just can't tolerate it," he told reporters.
Four exposure sites listed in South Australia
South Australian authorities have identified petrol stations linked to truck drivers who travelled through three states in WA, before testing positive to COVID-19.
On Saturday, SA Health listed two petrol stations in Port Augusta and another two in Ceduna, where the drivers are believed to have stopped on their journey through the state.
Anyone who was at the locations at the specified times must quarantine for 14 days and undergo several COVID tests during that time.
