Federal politicians who travelled to Canberra from Perth have been granted a health exemption to attend parliament for the first sitting week of the year.
ACT Health announced on Monday that WA MPs and senators would be freed from quarantine, paving the way for them to attend three days of parliament from Tuesday.
The group had been isolating in their Canberra accommodation after a hotel quarantine worker in Perth tested positive for coronavirus, sparking a five-day lockdown.
ACT Chief Health Officer Kerryn Coleman said work was underway with MPs and senators to grant individual exemptions.
"Parliamentarians travelling from COVID-affected parts of Western Australia will be eligible for an exemption as they are classified as essential workers," she told reporters in Canberra.
All other people who arrived from Perth on the same flight or who visited affected areas in Perth from 25 January onwards will have to remain in quarantine until Friday night.
Dr Coleman denied there was a double standard for politicians.
"I would argue that parliamentarians are treated in the same way as everyone else in that they have the opportunity to apply for an exemption as an essential worker," she said.
Political staffers and advisers have not been granted exemptions.
Attorney-General Christian Porter on Monday attended the ceremonial welcome of High Court judge Simon Steward who was appointed in October last year.
AAP understands Mr Porter was granted an exemption after testing negative and making a declaration he didn't visit any of the venues listed by authorities.
Dr Coleman confirmed ACT Health had spoken to Mr Porter's office about his attendance at the ceremony after he was pictured not wearing a mask but refused to detail the conversation.
A file photo of Attorney-General Christian Porter during Question Time in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra. Source: AAP
Before the exemption, Mr Porter said snap restrictions and lockdowns were something Australia had to live with ahead of the vaccine rollout.
"We were on a plane last night and I think they had a good debate as to whether or not to turn the plane around, actually, but that didn't happen and we landed," he told Sydney's 2GB radio.
