WA Premier Mark McGowan has sought Commonwealth approval to cap the number of international flights landing in Perth.
Mr McGowan said he had requested international arrivals be limited to “something in the vicinity of one flight per three days”.
He said WA continued to lead the country as a “safe haven” from COVID-19, and the state had not recorded a case of community infection since April 11.
“My biggest concern is … people coming from overseas, and the numbers and the pressure that puts on our hotels and our security arrangements,” he said.
“That is why I have written to the Prime Minister to ask that we have a cap on the number of flights coming into WA from overseas.
“New South Wales has done it, that is the other major gateway city of Australia — and you’ve got to understand these are Australians returning home.
“We need to slow down the flow so we can manage it appropriately.”
Mr McGowan said there had recently been an uptick in domestic and international arrivals at Perth Airport.
He said WA currently had more than 1,100 people in quarantine across five city hotels.
He said Cabinet had today approved the drafting of legislation to force any returning travellers to pay for a compulsory 14 days of quarantine.
Western Australia today reported three new cases of COVID-19, all of them overseas travellers who are now in hotel quarantine.
It brings to 12 the number of active cases in the state, while the total number of cases stands at 621.