WA closed: Celebrities turn on Mark McGowan over Covid border backflip

Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan is facing intense backlash from public figures after announcing the state's borders will remain closed indefinitely.

Mr McGowan confirmed on Thursday the reopening date of February 5 would be abandoned due to surging Omicron cases and low third-dose rates in WA - and offered no alternative for when Aussies can finally travel freely in their own country. 

Several newsreaders and television personalities - mostly Perth natives who now live on the east coast or overseas - blasted Mr McGowan for his dogged pursuit of a Covid-zero policy while the rest of the country learns to live with Covid.

Even high-profile broadcast journalists like 10 News First anchor Charlotte Goodlet, who has remained impartial on the issue on air, asked the premier why he would let so many people 'get their hopes up' only to let them down at the last minute. 

'My heart hurts,' tweeted Sydney-based Goodlet, who is the wife of former Swans captain Kieren Jack.

'Tonight's WA announcement is just so upsetting. I knew February 5 just wasn't going to happen, but for weeks - despite cases rising over east - the premier had PROMISED it would.

'Why now? Why let us get our hopes up? I miss my family.'

Jerrie Demasi, a Nine News reporter based in Los Angeles, tweeted: 'Heartbroken. I may now missed my sister's wedding.

'Triple vaxxed. Negative PCR. We've done everything you asked, Mark McGowan.'

Channel Seven sports presenter Abbey Gelmi, who was raised in Perth, shared a photo on Instagram of the front page of Friday's The West Australian newspaper with the headline: '658 days and he's still not ready'.

She wrote in the caption: 'I'm so angry and I don't have words. Mark McGowan is out of control. [Prime Minister] Scott Morrison, do something. Anything.

'We just want to see our loved ones.'

Former Bachelorette Brooke Blurton, an Indigenous woman from Carnarvon, WA, who now lives in Melbourne, said the news was 'absolutely devastating'.

'Like many other Families desperate to get into WA… we were really hoping for that Feb 5th date,' she wrote on Instagram.

'It's absolutely devastating to those who are desperate to get home.'

'Moving to Melbourne was a career sacrifice but in times of need and spiritual healing, your country always calls you back.'

Mr McGowan announced late on Thursday that WA's borders would remain closed indefinitely because opening up would be 'reckless', instead bringing a series of huge changes to entry rules.

The February 5 reopening date has been scrapped because of raising Omicron cases and low booster rates in WA, and no alternative date has been given.

He said while the hard border would remain in place the exemption criteria for arrivals would be expanded - especially for compassionate visits.  

'It would be reckless and irresponsible to open up now. I can't do it,' he said at an emergency press conference on Thursday night, adding he knew the decision would be unpopular with many. 

The state leader said he wanted to see more children vaccinated and more of the population eligible before he 'introduces Omicron deliberately' to Western Australia. 

Here's a complete guide to what WA's amended reopening plan means for you and when, if ever, you can travel west.

WHO CAN ENTER WA FROM FEBRUARY 5? 

Mr McGowan said the border will instead reopen in stages with quarantine requirements to remain indefinitely in Western Australia. 

Holidays to WA will remain banned for both domestic and international travellers. 

Arrivals will be permitted to enter to receive medical treatment, for compassionate reasons as well as those with genuine family links or returning residents.

People entering WA for national or state security reasons, those with specialist skills and government officials are also allowed to enter the state. 

Health workers, emergency services workers and family members of an approved traveller are also included in the expanded entry criteria. 

WHAT ARE THE TESTING AND QUARANTINE REQUIREMENTS? 

Arrivals will have to abide by strict testing and isolation rules with those flying internationally required to do seven days of both hotel and home quarantine. 

These include having a G2G pass, being triple-vaccinated if eligible for a third

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