A spokesman said the couple was exempt from isolating in a hotel following their arrival in Perth because Mr Stokes had recently undergone a medical procedure. "The exemption also applied to Mr Stokes' wife who accompanied him and they have been in isolation for two weeks at their home in Perth," he said. "Mr and Mrs Stokes strictly followed all the required protocols during that time, as did the air crew. "Many thousands of Australians have also received exemptions over the last month." The spokesman did not reveal details about the nature of the medical procedure that led to the exemption and said it was a private matter. Kerry Stokes' riverfront mansion in Perth's billionaire suburb of Dalkeith.

When Mr McGowan announced the quarantine rules in WA on March 27, which were a decision of the National Cabinet, he said there would be no exemptions to the 14-day requirement. He said it was a rule "for all Australians coming home from overseas into any state across the country". "There will be no exemptions on this," he said. "Any West Australians who are also still overseas and want to come back, they will not be allowed to go home – they will need to stay in self-isolation at Rottnest or a hotel. "Any other Australians coming home from overseas into WA will also be self-isolated in a hotel or at Rottnest." There were almost 1000 Australians locked up in Perth hotels in the first few days after the quarantine rules were put in place, including many who complained about the strictness of the measures.

One of them was Barry Preedy, who was COVID-19 positive but was refused permission to leave his hotel room to visit his wife Maureen as she died of the disease in a Perth hospital. According to guidelines posted on the federal Health Department's website, there are exemptions available for crew, unaccompanied minors and diplomats as well as on compassionate and health grounds. In a statement issued by the office of WA Police Minister Michelle Roberts, a state government spokesman said it was not appropriate to comment on any individual's personal circumstances. "WA Police manage the exemption process and the State Health Incident Coordination Centre also advises that all exemption requirements were complied with in this particular case and it is consistent with other exemptions that have needed to be issued," he said. Loading