McGowan announced the extraordinary backflip during a late-night press conference on Thursday, saying the state’s hard borders with every other jurisdiction in the country will remain in place indefinitely.

The Premier had promised to reopen the borders once the state’s double-dose vaccination rate reached 90 per cent. It is currently at 89 per cent.

More compassionate exemptions will be granted from February 5, when the borders had been due to be brought down, but anyone who makes it into WA from February 5 will still be required to quarantine for 14 days.

Interstate travellers will be allowed to self-quarantine but must be triple-dose vaccinated if eligible. International arrivals are required to enter hotel quarantine for seven days before being allowed to self-quarantine.

The decision raises serious questions about the government’s lack of preparedness after almost two years of border closures.

WA’s hospital system has struggled under the Labor government, with doctors and nurses concerned it could not handle a surge in COVID-19 cases.

“I know this decision will be unpopular with many people, as holiday plans and some family gatherings will have been disrupted. For that, I am sorry,” McGowan told reporters.

“If we proceeded with the original plan, we would be deliberately seeding thousands upon thousands of COVID cases into WA and at this point in time, that is not what I’m going to do.

“Especially when the science says we need to boost third doses and so many young children still need to get their vaccine.”

McGowan said the hard border controls would be further reviewed “over the course of the next month once the east coast has reached the peak of infection, and we have a better understanding of the true impact of Omicron”.

He denied the health system was not ready for borders reopening.

“The advice we have is the health system is strong and ready, but the problem is the rollout of the third dose,” he said.

“So all the advice we have is the third dose makes people’s resistance to Omicron stronger.”

McGowan said he would like the third dose rate to get “above at least 80 per cent, perhaps 90 per cent”.

WA’s third dose rate currently sits at about 26 per cent.

The decision was swiftly criticised by the Perth-based President of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Omar Khorshid, despite the group’s typically cautious approach to COVID-19 controls.

“Seems WA Premier @MarkMcGowanMP is a one trick pony when it comes to #COVID19. Hard border with the rest of the country and world remains despite almost 90% [vaxxed],” he tweeted.

And lastly… don’t pretend that the more ‘compassionate’ border arrangements are a major move.. they’re long overdue but the hard border continues to harm many people and needs to come down as SOON as we are ready.

— AMA President (@amapresident) January 20, 2022

“Was hoping for more courage from a Premier with an unprecedented parliamentary majority. This decision should be acknowledged as a failure by the WA govt to prepare and a broken promise.

“Omicron is here already and it will cause a significant outbreak in WA soon enough. Sticking our head in the sand won’t make it go away. Let’s prepare!”

-with AAP