Federal election 2022: Scott Morrison’s press conference ‘tactic’ with popular Labor premiers

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has raised eyebrows after employing an “unusual” new tactic at press conferences.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has employed a new tactic in recent press conferences – standing beside a popular Labor premier.

Last week there was the lovefest between Mr Morrison and Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan when announcing joint funding for a university campus and construction of a bridge.

Standing in front of reporters in Perth, Mr Morrison said the word “partnership” a whopping 14 times.

It was a major turnaround from August last year when he likened West Australians to cavemen due to Mr McGowan’s strict border policy by referencing children’s movie The Croods.

On Monday, it was a similar story at a joint press conference with Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Deputy Premier Steven Miles.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk posed for a handshake at the media event. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

“So I want to thank you, Premier, for the partnership, we work together on many different projects and this one has been incredibly important,” Mr Morrison said while announcing a funding deal for southeast Queensland.

Ms Palaszczuk said it showed they could work “constructively and very well together”.

It was a world away from earlier this month when she criticised the Prime Minister over flood funding.

Australian National University School of Politics and International Relations Emeritus Professor John Warhurst said that it was an “interesting tactic” by Mr Morrison that did seem a little “unusual”.

“I think it’s premeditated, I don’t think Scott Morrison does anything not premeditated,” he said.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said they could work constructively together. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

“He might be hoping a bit of the gloss of those popular state premiers rubs off on him.”

Professor Warhurst said it would be aimed at distinguishing the premiers from Opposition leader Anthony Albanese.

Griffith University political analyst Paul Williams said it was clearly a tactic in the lead up to the election to appear more statesmanlike and trustworthy.

“There’s no doubt you’re going to hear more rhetoric around nation building and coming together,” he said.

He said although the integrity crisis within the Queensland government meant Ms Palaszczuk’s popularity had “taken a hit”, she would still win if a state election was held now.

Mr Albanese visited Western Australia on March 3 but was unable to lock in any public media opportunity with Mr McGowan due to a scheduling conflict.

The West Australian Premier travelled to Sydney that afternoon due to his defamation trial with Clive Palmer.

Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan and Prime Minister Scott Morrison were very chummy at their media event last week. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Sharon Smith

Mr Albanese has also not held a joint press conference with the Queensland Premier during his many visits to the state this year.

However he met up with her last week at a St Patrick’s Day function in the Sunshine State.

The Prime Minister at the weekend downplayed any federal implications of Labor’s crushing victory at the South Australian state election.

“What I know is that Anthony Albanese is not Peter Malinauskas,” he said.

“He’s not any of the other premiers, he’s not Annastacia Palaszczuk, he’s none of these other premiers.”