Mark McGowan posts TikTok urging Western Australia residents to get vaccinated at Bunnings

We’ve seen some bizarre footage throughout the Covid pandemic, but this clip of WA Premier Mark McGowan is right up there.

If one thing’s certain about the coronavirus pandemic, it’s that we will all have a library of bizarre video content to look back on in awe for decades to come.

From public fisticuffs over masks, to viral videos of protesters scaling Town Hall against a backdrop of smoke grenades, it’s almost as if nothing will surprise us now at the back end of the crisis.

But we also have the Western Australia Premier’s official Tik Tok profile to account for.

It would be nigh impossible to explain to someone in 2019 why the leader of an Aussie state would be partnering with a hardware store for a TikTok video, encouraging people to undergo a medical procedure next to a BBQ. But here we are.

“Christmas is just around the corner. So now’s the time to get to all those little jobs you’ve been putting off,” The Premier said, superimposed over a low-resolution picture of a Bunnings aisle.

“Like getting on top of the gardening, or giving the fence a fresh coat of paint. Or getting vaccinated!

“You can do it all this weekend at Bunnings. Anytime between the hours of 9am and 4pm.”

The music from Bunnings’ ads played throughout the clip, and the video used the same graphics as well - just promoting the vaccines instead of household products.

Eight Bunnings locations in WA will be offering immunisations over the weekend including Mindarie, Ellenbrook, Balcatta, Cannington, Harrisdale, Rockingham, Geraldton and Busselton.

However strange the footage may have seemed to the average viewer, TikTok commenters were mostly fans of the Premier’s collaboration with Bunnings.

Some have been calling him “Daddy Mark”, declaring they would get another jab if it meant catching a glimpse of their political leader. Yeah.

One commenter wasn’t as impressed, however.

“I’ll take WD40 over the vaccine,” Mario Van Corler said.

The Premier encouraged WA residents to roll up to Bunnings and roll up their sleeves this weekend.

Bizarre. I get that you can get a jab at Bunnings but just weird content pic.twitter.com/2FGEKBeQSF

— cam wilson, nft (@cameronwilson) November 5, 2021

To be fair to Western Australia, McGowan’s vaccination collaboration with Bunnings isn’t the weirdest PR stunt pulled so far in the pandemic. One only needs to look at the US for some of the most bizarre campaigns.

For example, anyone who was jabbed at the mobile vaccination site at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex (WSRC) in Sparta, Illinois on May 14-15 was able to score 100 free clay targets to shoot at.

In June West Virigina Governor Jim Justice announced all vaccinated members of the state would be eligible to win everything from college scholarships to 10 custom hunting guns and an array of lifetime hunting and fishing permits.

The cheekiest of the campaigns might have been from advocacy group DC Marijuana Justice, which announced on April 20 it would be handing out free joints outside random vaccination centres in Washington and New York.

McGowan slammed for WA border announcement

Mr McGowan on Friday announced his state’s border restrictions would remain in place until WA reaches a 90 per cent vaccination target for everyone over the age of 12.

Currently only 63.7 per cent of West Australians are fully vaccinated, and 79.3 per cent have had one dose.

“Some of the comments [on social media] already are, ‘Who is he kidding? We will not hit 90 per cent,’” a reporter put to the Premier on Friday.

“My advice to you is do not read the comments,” Mr McGowan replied.

The reporter said these were “just people reacting to what they are hearing here today – you have many followers on social media, Premier – and they are saying, ‘Who is he kidding?’”

“My advice to you is that many people say many things … and I ignore a lot of that comment,” Mr McGowan said.

“We are doing the right thing by the people of the state.”

What a joke McGowan continues to be. He refuses to believe the Doherty scientists. He knows better. 90% not 80% threshold for reopening. 12 plus not 16 plus either. The entire world is laughing at this bloke. #COVID19

— Chris Smith (@chrissmithonair) November 5, 2021

In July, McGowan signed up to the national plan based on the expert Doherty modelling. He's now reneged on that based on a worst case scenario not experienced in ANY state, even those with thousands of cases. If this isn't politics, I don't know what is. What a shameful episode.

— Jennifer Bechwati (@jenbechwati) November 5, 2021

Asked how he felt the public would react to “being punished going through until the end of February, into March, because of a few stragglers”, Mr McGowan again urged everyone to get the injection.

Mr McGowan said border controls would be eased “at a point where there is no community transmission in Western Australia, combined with very, very high levels of vaccination”.

“I understand there will be disappointment for some,” Mr McGowan said.

“I acknowledge some people will be frustrated. They may not be able to be reunited with family from New South Wales or Victoria over Christmas. I know what that feels like. I understand. But as difficult as it is, it is for the right reasons. It’s about following the health advice and keeping Western Australia safe.”