WA businesses conflicted over border reopening stance

For almost two long years, Western Australia's fortress has been standing tall, creating an almost COVID-free life.

But residents still can't come and go as they please and businesses are at breaking point.

Premier Mark McGowan had set a date and the border was supposed to open on February 5, but he got cold feet and put those plans on ice.

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For John Tomkins, who runs Perth's Red Bus tours, it was another devastating blow.

"Professionally, it's the worst period we've ever known. The toll personally, I don't think we'll really know until we've come out the other side of it," Mr Tomkins told A Current Affair.

But not everyone is sure whether they want borders to open, due to the potential impact on health care and businesses.

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Melissa Palinkas, the owner of Perth restaurant Young George, admits she's scared.

"Mark McGowan's done an amazing job of keeping us safe. But I do feel that it's time to rip that band-aid off and let it come in, so we can actually move forward in life," Ms Palinkas said.

"We can't live in this bubble. At the same time, I don't want it in. So I'm kind of 50-50 on where I stand with it."

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For families, it's been a heartbreaking and uncertain time.

Sydney mother Inas Tadros hasn't seen her son Mina for almost a year - even though he lives in the same country.

She can travel internationally, but can't get to Perth to visit him.

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"It's really ridiculous because I was able to travel last month to Egypt for 18 days - in Dubai and Singapore," Ms Tadros said.

"But I can't travel internally in Australia - interstate to Western Australia. For me, that's a big joke."

Mina doesn't even know if he'll be able to get back to the east coast, where he is supposed to get married at the end of the year.

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"Once upon a time we used to be - here in WA - the envy of the rest of the country for how protected we are," Mina said.

"But now I envy everyone over east with their freedoms and their ability to go and live their lives now."

The state has hit a record number of daily COVID-19 cases with 115 new local infections.

The premier has remained tight-lipped on when he will bring down the hard border.