"Dear premiers and chief ministers, we want answers…"
So starts a two-minute heartfelt video of more than 30 children living in Western Australia, pleading with Mark McGowan's government to open the state's border so they can be reunited with their families.
"Dear Mr McGowan, we haven’t seen our grandparents in England for nearly two years and we really miss them. They are fully vaccinated and have their flight booked on 26 January. Please set a date, so we know if they can come," says 11-year-old Sam in the video.
"What does your grandmother and mother mean to you? Are they immediate family or not?" asks nine-year-old Jack.
"Why did you let the players in, but not my grandparents?" wonders 12-year-old Syed.
"I want to know why the government is letting celebrities come, but not my grandma," says six-year-old Adirai, adding: "My grandma is my family. I am Australian, too. I love my grandma."
Western Australia – like the rest of the country– closed its borders to non-residents in March 2020. But while most other Australian jurisdictions are easing COVID-19 restrictions in line with the federal government's reopening roadmap, WA remains firmly fortified and has not named a reopening date.
The video is produced by the WA-based members of Parents Are Immediate Family (PAIF) – a national support and advocacy group of more than 27,000 first-generation citizens, permanent and temporary residents of Australia.
More than 100 families from diverse backgrounds such as Indian, English, Colombian, German, Spanish, Irish, South African, American, Russian, Italian, Peruvian, Argentinian, Chilean, Swiss and Filipino contributed to the video.
"Families are struggling – mentally and physically," said Valeria Greenfield, the administrator of PAIF’s Facebook page.
Four-month-old Matilda from Perth has never met her grandparents. Source: Supplied
"There are many new mums, who are struggling with postnatal depression, who don’t have any support," she said.
"And there are also many families who have no support at all. WA is a remote place in Australia and they are so isolated. And they are struggling with the uncertainty, with no end in sight, especially now that Victoria and NSW are opening and [the people there] are reuniting with their parents."
The group has contacted the WA premier's office a number of times in the past.
"But the response is always the same: 'We have to wait until some point next year,'" Ms Greenfield said.
"But next year is long. It’s 12 months. The kids are growing and the parents are getting older. Many parents have already died [before being reunited with their families]."
"It’ll never happen for them so people are living in fear. They’re scared [about] who’s next - which parent is going to die next without seeing their families. For many people, it’s already too late. We don’t want it to be late for everyone."
A state government spokesperson told SBS News that authroities' priority remains the safety of Western Australians.
"To protect WA in the long term, we all need to get vaccinated," they said in a statement.
"International arrivals or people who enter Western Australia from overseas, under WA’s controlled border arrangements, must undertake hotel quarantine at a state facility for 14 days at the traveller’s expense."
"WA’s international arrivals cap remains at 265 people per week."
