Mark’s McGowan nowhere: WA Premier skips National Cabinet meeting to avoid SA Premier Steven Marshall

The WA Premier will be the only state leader not meeting in Canberra today – because of health advice to avoid South Australians including our own Premier.

WA Premier Mark McGowan won’t attend the first in-person National Cabinet meeting to avoid being in the same room as his South Australian counterpart Steven Marshall.

Mr McGowan is the only State or Territory leader who won’t fly to Canberra for Friday’s meeting, which will be attended by premiers including Mr Marshall.

WA is the only State which remains closed to SA and Mr Marshall today said he would ask Mr McGowan to consider lifting border restrictions in time for Christmas.

Despite SA recording 11 consecutive days with no coronavirus cases, WA’s border controls require anyone who mixes with SA residents to self-quarantine for 14 days on arrival in the west.

Mr McGowan’s spokesman said the Premier would take part in the National Cabinet meeting via teleconference, as has been the case since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March.

“While it is safe to travel to Canberra based on our health advice, given the restrictions in place for people who have knowingly mixed with residents of South Australia, it was appropriate that the Premier join the meeting from Perth instead,” the spokesman said.

“The signs are looking good for South Australia, and unless there is a subsequent outbreak, they will move to the ‘low risk’ category from Friday as we have announced.

“Like with all other jurisdictions, South Australia can only become a ‘very low risk’ state once they have recorded at least 28 days of no community cases.

“While these restrictions are in place, it’s important the Premier lead by example and follow the health advice.”

WA Premier Mark McGowan. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Tony McDonough

SA Premier Steven Marshall. Picture: Kelly Barnes/Getty Images

The Premier passed on his apologies to Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his spokesman said he remained a strong supporter of the National Cabinet process, which he believed was an “excellent reform to the Federation”.

Mr McGowan’s decision not to attend in-person appeared to come as a surprise to Mr Marshall, who earlier in the day said he would see his WA counterpart in Canberra on Thursday night.

“I will certainly be asking the Premier there to consider the excellent results we have here in South Australia,” Mr Marshall said.

“I think there are many people here in our State who have got friends, they’ve got family, they’ve got loved ones in Western Australia — they would love to see them for Christmas.

“We’ve done extraordinarily well, I think it’s time for Western Australia to again consider lifting those restrictions in time for Christmas.

Before boarding the flight to Canberra on Thursday morning, Mr Marshall said Mr McGowan would need to explain his logic for the decision not to attend the National Cabinet.

“The reality is that every other state Premiers and Chief Ministers have advice on South Australia’s health and they will all be at the meeting,” he told ABC Radio Adelaide.

“South Australia, I expect to have 12 days of no new cases, when we report later today and we have no active cases in our state whatsoever.

“That is quite a contrast with West Australia where they have more than a dozen active cases.

‘I will leave it up to Mark McGowan to explain where he is getting his health advice from. I think South Australia has done an outstanding job staring down a second wave.

“I think it is now time for Mark McGowan to lift that border restriction with our state.”

WA Chief Health Officer Andy Robertson’s latest advice said SA would be considered “low risk” from Friday, but arrivals from that State must self-quarantine.

Dr Robertson recommended SA’s status be again reviewed within two weeks, which could be as late as Christmas Day.