Mark McGowan’s decision to quit as Western Australian Premier is even more of a shock than his radical slamming shut of state borders to counter Covid-19. auspol
is even more of a shock than his radical slamming shut of state borders to counter COVID-19.
Not only were the state liberals reduced in 2021 to an embarrassing two seats in what used to be a Coalition stronghold, WA’s dramatic shift towards labor at the last federal election cemented Anthony Albanese’s ability to form majority government.McGowan is confident, he says, Labor will win the next state election in 20 months without him. Albanese will be quietly confident about salvaging his own chances in WA given federal labor’s relative popularity.
“It built up over time,” he said. “I sort of worked out that I didn’t want to fight the next election. It clearly helps McGowan’s reputation that booming prices for iron ore and other resources translated into massive royalties and overflowing budget revenues.McGowan boasts he’s achieved what he wanted in politics by leaving the state in better shape. He cites the budget’s big surplus and strong spending on services as well as environmental and social reforms. His government’s greatest vulnerability has actually been criticism it’s not spending enough on health given the mining money flowing in.
According to McGowan – although never his political opponents – he’s not naturally a combative or confrontational person and politics required this of him every day.His usual posture in a press conference, honed daily during COVID, was to stand hands on his hips and respond aggressively to even slightly sceptical questions or critical comments from whatever source. He developed a reputation, even among supporters, for arrogance and acting as a one-man band.
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