Western Australia has announced a spate of changes to its border policies that will allow some people to travel to the state on compassionate grounds from 5 February.
But some members of the migrant community are “devastated” and say they have not been given any consideration.
“It’s devastating to watch all these people reunite with their families in other states and we’re not classed as the same. It is extremely hurtful,” British-born Raquel Schwarcz-Young told SBS News.
Ms Schwarcz-Young lives in Perth with her wife Darcie and 14-month-old son Ethan.
Two Christmases have come and gone and neither Ms Schwarcz-Young nor her wife have been able to invite their families, who live in the UK and the US, to Perth.
“My son is 14 months and he’s never met his grandparents. Will they be able to see my son before he becomes two? I don’t know,” Ms Schwarcz-Young said.
The WA border was meant to open on 5 February and Ms Schwarcz-Young’s family was desperately waiting for that date so they could finally get their families to visit them in Perth.
But in light of the Omicron variant Premier Mark McGowan sensationally backflipped on his promise on 20 January saying: “Omicron is a whole new ball game … We can't just shut our eyes and hope that it is different.”
The WA government has since announced border policies that will allow some people to travel to the state on compassionate grounds and under strict conditions.
For instance, returning Western Australians with strong recent connections or direct family connections can now travel to the state as long as they’re fully vaccinated, can provide proof of a negative rapid antigen test 24 hours before arrival, are ready to self-quarantine for 14 days, and agree to take a PCR test within 48 hours of arrival and then again on the 12th day after arrival.
But Ms Raquel Schwarcz-Young said, while a pathway has been offered to some people to travel the state, the overseas-based parents of the migrant communities have been forgotten.
“I understand what the government has tried to do but it is not good enough to just cancel the entry date without a plan put in place to allow families to reunite.
“It is devastating that nothing had been put in place and that [Australian] citizens with family abroad hadn’t been taken into account,” she said.
Perth resident Stacey Brimson told SBS News the extension of the hard borders had placed her family in "complete limbo" again.
Her parents in the UK were due to arrive in February to see her one-year-old child for the first time.
"I've never been so homesick and felt so devastated, especially my mum, not being able to hold my daughter or spend time with her. That the emotional stress is just all-consuming," she said.
Stacey Brimson and her family. Source: Supplied
"One minute parents are on the exemption list then they’re not, then they are, but only for a certain reason. It just makes it even harder because you can’t put a plan in place."
She has considered travelling back to the UK with her daughter to see her mother regardless of the border but was fearful she wouldn't be allowed back.
"My work have been incredible and they said I could work from overseas. My husband doesn't have that luxury. I can't take my daughter from him and risk of getting stuck over there for months and months on end. I couldn't do that to him," she told SBS News.
A WA Government spokesperson said: "WA has followed the health advice during this pandemic and this has kept us safe and safeguarded us from the devastating impacts that have occurred right around us.”
Additional reporting by Kath Landers
