WA’s hard border stance whacked by Senator Mathias Cormann

The McGowan Government’s decision to keep the state’s hard border in place has been condemned as potentially unconstitutional by WA Senator Mathias Cormann.

Western Australia’s decision to retain its strict border closure has been slammed as potentially unconstitutional by Finance Minister Mathias Cormann.

Premier Mark McGowan on Thursday said there was “no benefit” for WA to open to neighbouring jurisdictions, with jobs likely to be lost, adding those pushing for it only wanted to see WA’s high income earners spend money in the eastern states.

His comments sparked a backlash and on Sunday the WA Senator accused Mr McGowan of “economic protectionism”.

“The statement that the premier made last week that he was intent on keeping Western Australians locked into WA on economic grounds, rather than on health grounds, on the face of it seemed to me to be inconsistent with explicit provisions in the constitution,” Senator Cormann told Sky News.

“He was suggesting that the reason Western Australians were prevented from going to South Australia or the Northern Territory was so that they wouldn’t … spend their money there.”

Senator Cormann said not only was economic protectionism bad for the economy and people’s living standards, it was also “explicitly prohibited” in the constitution.

“Trade and movement of people across states has to be absolutely free and consistent with our constitution,” he said.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann refused to comment on Clive Palmer’s High Court challenge against the WA Government’s hard border. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

But Mr McGowan dismissed the Senator’s claim of economic protectionism.

“I don’t know how you’re economically protectionist when you’ve kept all the trading industries open and we have the most free and open society of anywhere in Australia,” he told reporters on Sunday.

“We can do things within WA they can’t dream of doing in Sydney or Melbourne.”

Mr McGowan insisted his comments on Thursday were only about “what other states wanted” and said “our advice is guided by Health.”

The Premier has long said the hard border would only be removed when there was no community transmission for 28 days across the country.

“Because we’re so open and we’re so free to move around, and crowds are gathering at nightclubs and pubs and bars and football games and wherever else, we are more vulnerable than anywhere else if a case gets in,” he said.

“That, to a degree, explains my caution.”

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said he would be happy to take the most senior members of the federal government on a tour of the state to show them what “an infrastructure agenda looks like”. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Daniel Pockett

Senator Cormann will on Tuesday had down his last budget ahead of his resignation later this year.

He called on states to do more to support the coronavirus recovery.

“States around Australia, including my own home state of WA could do more, to support Australia support business (and) to support jobs,” Senator Cormann said.

“If some states aren’t prepared to get cracking, then we will be working with those states that are.”

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on Sunday revealed he had spoken to the government about sharing the costs of a $1.75 billion infrastructure package for the state.

The works would create around 1400 jobs.

Projects included in the construction boost include: Shepparton line stage three, Warrnambool line stage two, Murray-Darling Basin rail project, Barwon Heads North, South Rd, Hall Rd, Western Port Hwy, Princess Hwy west and east, and other regional highway upgrades.

“That’s the bare minimum,” Mr Andrews said.

“Wouldn’t all be federal money, there would be contributions from us.

“I’d be confident that the Prime Minister will know and understand that if you want the national economy to be going well, then you have got to support the engine room of that national economy, which is the great state of Victoria.”