WA Premier Mark McGowan sticks to his guns on state Covid-19 border controls

Mark McGowan says WA’s mining industry has been bankrolling the ‘bailout’ of Covid-hit NSW.

WA Premier Mark McGowan. Picture: Colin Murty

Unrepentant West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has slammed NSW’s handling of the Covid crisis and defended his commitment to maintain the state’s border controls for the longer term.

A day after his comments about wanting to keep WA Covid-free even once the state hit an 80 per cent vaccination rate sparked criticism from business leaders and Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Mr McGowan on Monday said he did not understand the controversy.

“I’m getting criticised over east, I understand, for saying I’d prefer to not have Covid,” he said. “What’s the alternative? NSW? Is that what they want?”