MAFS star hasn't seen her family in TWO YEARS due to WA border closure 

Melissa Lucarelli has slammed Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan for his decision to keep the state's border closed.

In a heartbreaking post, the former Married At First Sight star said she was 'devastated' and hadn't seen her family in two years.

Making the situation worse is the fact that the Perth-born star's father has been battling cancer.

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.

'I haven't seen my family for over two years!' she raged in a post shared to Instagram on Friday.

'Honestly, how much longer will this go on?' she continued. 'Beyond devastated!'

Back in December of 2020, Melissa revealed her father had been diagnosed with cancer. 

'Recently found out my dad has cancer,' she shared on Instagram.

'The aggressive kind of course. He just had two back to back operations to remove the tumor and again to remove further cancerous cells. Now, the waiting to hear. Did they get there in time or has it spread!?' 

Accompanying the post was a touching photo of Melissa smiling as she posed alongside her father at a cafe. 

The reality star went on to add that while she 'struggles to even talk about the such things', she shared the news because 'cancer affects each and every one of us'.

'Most of us think it won't happen to us. We tend to come up with a million reasons to put off a check up or ignore the signs when something doesn't feel right,' she said.

'But REMINDER: cancer is an evil bitch everyone. It doesn't rest and it also doesn't discriminate. It's not a fair fight.'

She signed the post off with a plea to her followers to get regular screenings for cancer screenings.

'Make the time! Screening is one of the most effective ways to detect early signs of cancer,' she wrote.

Melissa is not the only star to have voiced her frustration, with the Premier facing intense backlash.   

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 nation 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 allow so many people to '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.'

Footy WAG Rebecca Judd, who hails from Perth and now lives in Brighton, Melbourne, reposted Gelmi's gut-wrenching message on her own Instagram page.

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.