Federal election 2022: Scott Morrison’s awkward gaffe at press conference with Mark McGowan

Scott Morrison has made an awkward gaffe while holding a rare joint press conference with Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has had an awkward faux pas at a joint press conference in Western Australia with popular Labor Premier Mark McGowan.

Speaking from the marginal seat of Swan on Thursday, the pair formally announced a state and federal cash injection of $100m to build Edith Cowan University’s Perth campus and further funding for the city’s Swan River Bridge.

”We are both leaders of governments that have much to do and for a long time now … the best way to do that is to work together,” Mr Morrison said.

“And I mean, in Western Australia, I think we have a lot of commonality on the importance of having a strong economy which supports everything else.

“It’s about federal Labor, it’s not about state Labor, and there’s quite a bit in common I’ve found working with the WA state government when it comes to how we manage the economy.”

But things later turned awkward when Mr Morrison was asked whether he had also met with the state Opposition leader, Nationals MP Mia Davies.

“What about the state opposition, why aren’t you meeting with the state Opposition leader?” a reporter asked.

“I did, I have, I saw Dr Honey yesterday,” Mr Morrison said, referring to Leader of the WA Liberal Party David Honey.

“Dr Honey is not the Opposition leader,” the reporter informed him.

“Sorry,” Mr Morrison started to say.

Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan and Prime Minister Scott Morrison made a joint funding announcement on Wednesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Sharon Smith

“Mia Davies is the state opposition leader,” the reporter continued.

“Well I’m talking about the Liberal leader, I met with the Liberal leader when I’m in town,” Mr Morrison said.

Mr McGowan had earlier joked about Mr Morrison’s long absence in the state due to his tough border closures.

The Prime Minister had an awkward faux pas when he was asked about meeting with the state opposition leader. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Sharon Smith

“I can’t help but feel partially responsible for his absence the last two or 300 days,” Mr McGowan said, thanking Mr Morrison for his budget commitments to the state.

But despite the friendly press conference, he was later at pains to point out that he would be trying to get federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese elected in May.

“Obviously today I’m engaged in a budget announcement with the Prime Minister, I take my role as Premier very seriously to secure as much support for Western Australia as I possibly can,” he said.

“I will be supporting and working with Anthony Albanese and federal Labor over the next few months in the lead up to the May election.

“I’ve campaigned for and with federal Labor in every single federal election... so I’ll be doing that again.”

Mr Morrison was also forced to deny there had been delays to announce a $1.4bn funding package for devastated flood affected residents in NSW due to his campaigning in Western Australia since Tuesday.

“Was the food relief postponed because of your campaigning here in WA?” a reporter asked.

“Not at all,” Mr Morrison said.

“The National Security Committee of Cabinet met for several hours yesterday, I was here in Perth and was at that meeting, as was the Attorney-General.

“And in working through the proposal that came forward, we’ve been able to finalise some arrangements today and the Minister Emergency Management and Disaster Resilience will be making announcements further on those issues later today.

“That is the normal process as I indicated, the Premier will be turning that around as quickly as possible.”