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A report into Western Australia’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has found the state reacted appropriately to health concerns despite mounting criticism from families who lost a loved one during the pandemic.
One Perth father has demanded an apology from the government following the release of the report, claiming the state’s strict lockdown rules caused his daughter’s death.
“My daughter took her own life, I want that apology from the government. I want a personal apology,” Alain D’argent said.
His 31-year-old daughter, Robyn, was living in Sydney and struggling with mental illness when the pandemic struck.
She was denied entry to see her family twice before she died.
D’argent was then denied a G2G pass when retrieving his daughter’s ashes, which would have allowed him access back into WA.
The report was released with 35 recommendations and few criticisms despite his story and concerns being voiced to the panel.
The report recommends the government “continue to consider trade-offs between health, economic and social outcomes” and “ensure that the process for granting exemptions is clear, transparent and widely publicised and that exemption criteria are consistently applied”.
D’argent said he found the report disappointing.
“It’s very vague and open, what does it mean to a layman? it doesn’t mean anything,” he said.
Premier Roger Cook said the report, which cost taxpayers $400,000, was a “blueprint for the future.”
“We’ll need to do better next time and that’s why we’ve created this report because it’s a guide, it’s a blueprint for future governments,” he said.
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