Mark McGowan’s riding high, for now

WA premier Mark McGowan has approval ratings that any politician would dream of. How has he done it?

Despite some ups and downs and shaky moments, Australians have generally approved of our political leaders’ actions in the wake of Covid-19. But Mark McGowan, WA premier, must have been as surprised as anyone by polling that put his approval ratings at anywhere from 89 per cent to 91 per cent (Newspoll had 94 per cent of punters believing he had handled the crisis well) – figures that politicians anywhere would never dare dream of.

It was only a few years ago that then NSW leader Mike Baird was the country’s most popular premier – at 63 per cent. McGowan is in the unusual position of being lavished with praise by industry leaders and regular punters, some of whom took to their driveways to clap him thank you. That must be a first. Unlike Queensland, his action to keep borders closed has enhanced his standing, no doubt due in part to WA’s separatist tendencies. Of course, what goes up must come down. Political leaders are only as good as their last disastrous interview or bad decision. Just look at Baird – from an unassailable high he tumbled and eventually resigned.