Perth's lockdown is over but anger at the man who sparked the three-day shutdown remains.
The man returned to Australia after flying to India to attend his wedding - despite non-essential travel being all but banned.
He contracted the virus in India and then spread it through the Mercure Hotel in Perth before it leaked into the community, resulting in a three-day lockdown which was lifted on Monday.
Health Minister Greg Hunt told news.com.au the man was able to prove "profound reasons" for his travel.
When asked about his opinion on Australians being allowed to move in and out of the country, Hunt said these exemptions were "for the most profound humanitarian or compassionate reasons".
"There are exemptions for people to leave the country under the strictest of circumstances," Hunt told reporters on Monday.
The case has ignited anger and confusion over who is allowed to leave, and for what purpose.
Western Australia's Premier Mark McGowan said people should only be allowed overseas for "the most extreme and extraordinary of reasons".
"We can't have people leaving this country for whatever purpose and then coming back COVID-positive, one, displacing other Australians overseas, but two, putting pressure on our system," he said.
He blasted people leaving Australia for non-essential events.
"People have been going overseas to play in sporting events, they have been leaving here to go and study, they have been going to funerals and they have been going to weddings. They're not essential. You can study here, you can get married, people here are missing funerals."
"I think the most important is we need to have a system that has fewer people coming into hotel quarantine and we have to have fewer people leaving Australia and returning."
Although Perth's lockdown is over some restrictions remain - face masks are mandatory in public, including at secondary schools and some venues such as gyms, clubs and casinos must remain closed.
Restaurants, pubs and cafes can open but with a limit of 20 patrons including staff members.
