WA Premier Mark McGowan blasts Covid-19 ‘conspiracy theorist’ federal MPs

An outspoken Premier has launched an almighty spray against ‘strange conspiracy theorists’ trying to block vaccine mandates.

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has a dim view of federal “political opportunists” trying to stop Covid-19 vaccine mandates, saying they are “not fit” to be members of parliament.

After a debate was launched in federal parliament, Mr McGowan urged Prime Minister Scott Morrison not to be swayed by some of his colleagues taking the controversial stance.

“I view them very dimly. They’re just political opportunists,” the Labor leader told reporters on Tuesday.

“They’ll do anything to get some attention and win some votes, say and do anything, including endangering people’s lives. They’re actually not fit to be members of parliament.

“They’re conspiracy theorists, they’re strange, they’re shocking people, and I’d urge people not to listen to them, including the Prime Minister.”

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson tried to introduce a private members bill seeking to ban mandatory vaccinations and overturn state and territory requirements for full vaccination to be required in some settings.

The bill, which was eventually voted against by an overwhelming majority, was seconded by Nationals Senator Matt Canavan and supported by Liberal backbencher Gerard Rennick.

Five government senators crossed the floor to support the bill.

Nationals Senators Matt Canavan and Sam McMahon, Liberal Senators Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, Gerard Rennick and Alex Antic after voting for One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson’s vaccine discrimination bill on Monday. Picture: Mick Tsikas/AAP

The Premier said Mr Morrison should not be trying to appeal to anyone who did not support getting the jab.

“What he should be trying to do is support us in getting people vaccinated because that’s the way through this,” the Premier said.

“I just urge the Prime Minister not to take the low road, take the high road.”

Asked if he had spoken to Mr Morrison about the issue, Mr McGowan said it had been a subject at the national cabinet for many months.

“The commonwealth government has mandated for people to come into Australia, including Australians, to be double dose vaccinated,” he said.

“I think his (the Prime Minister’s) current approach is not consistent with what they’ve done and I just urge him to stop trying to appeal to those people.”

Mr Morrison recently denounced protests in Melbourne advocating violence against Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews but at the same time said Australians were frustrated with governments telling them what to do.

Mr McGowan labelled the remarks “dog-whistling” to anti-vaxxers.

Originally published as WA Premier Mark McGowan blasts Covid-19 ‘conspiracy theorist’ federal MPs