Bully Bakery

This has been a week unlike any other for WA.

Lockdown. Fire. Floods. It's thrown everything at us, but in return Western Australians have shown the absolute best of our State.

A week ago, when we detected COVID case 903, it was hard to know how this week would play out.

We took immediate action - because we know that is what is needed when dealing with this devastating virus.

Western Australia have had an amazing result this week, but if things had been different, and there were cases of COVID-19 in the community, not locking down could have been a catastrophe.

This virus is deadly. It is wreaking havoc around the world. There is no cure.

We have done so well here, and we know how important it is to keep our State COVID-free. While other places around the world are seeing unfathomable tragedy and death, we have thrived, and enjoyed the kind of freedoms that other places could only dream of.

My priority is, and always will be, to keep WA safe, and get our State back to that position.

But, with that said, I am sincerely sorry for any distress, loss and inconvenience the events of this week have caused.

I know it’s been hard, and I wish it didn’t have to happen.

This situation is something that many Governments have had to grapple with over the past year - and I can assure you that we will learn from this experience and continue to adjust and strengthen our rules.

Above all though, this week has shown the power of our community - Western Australians united to take the action we needed to keep our State safe.

The action that people took - getting tested in incredible numbers and to overwhelmingly do the right thing with a positive attitude - made all the difference.

It was easy for anyone to see how quickly and overwhelmingly people took to staying home and wearing masks when they were in public.

That is incredibly reassuring - and it gives us confidence as we now work our way back towards the way of life we have all enjoyed in previous months.

It's even more remarkable, however, that our state has also had to deal with one of the most significant bushfires we've seen in years, and now severe storms and significant flooding across large parts of WA.

Our firefighters did an incredible job at the Wooroloo Bushfire. Tragically, 86 homes were lost and many more were damaged, but there was a real risk that it could have been significantly worse.

To have held the line in trying conditions - and in this week of all weeks - is truly a heroic effort.

To all the firefighters and emergency workers from across the State who were on the front line this week - on behalf of all Western Australians - thank you so much.

Our hearts go out to those who lost their homes this week - and our thanks to everyone who has responded with kindness and generosity to support all those impacted by the fire.

The floods and storms we are now facing are also significant - and are being considered a once-in-a-decade event in some parts of our State. I urge everyone to please heed the warnings and stay safe as they continue to unfold.

This week has truly thrown everything at the people of Western Australia - but our character is what shines through.

West Aussies are resilient.

We care for one another.

We take action.

And we will get through this, together.

A message to all Western Australians:

We will get through this, together.