Chaos for artists over WA border closure

Cancellation and confusion have followed last week's announcement by Premier Mark McGowan.
An oron gate locked by a padlock and chain.

The extended closure of the Western Australian border, while seen by some as a necessary step to protect the state’s population from the worst ravages of the Omicron variant, has nonetheless had a significant impact on the arts sector.

Having previously announced the border would reopen on 5 February, Premier Mark McGowan last week extended the border closure indefinitely, saying it would be ‘reckless and irresponsible,’ to do otherwise.

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Richard Watts is ArtsHub's National Performing Arts Editor; he also presents the weekly program SmartArts on Three Triple R FM, and serves as the Chair of La Mama Theatre's volunteer Committee of Management. Richard is a life member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, and was awarded the status of Melbourne Fringe Living Legend in 2017. In 2020 he was awarded the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize. Most recently, Richard was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Green Room Awards Association in June 2021. Follow him on Twitter: @richardthewatts