Prime Minister Scott Morrison plays down Premier Mark McGowan’s popularity as Federal election looms

Scott Morrison says he is not concerned about Mark McGowan’s stellar popularity in WA affecting his chances of securing the State during a Federal election, declaring: “I’m not running against Mark.” Speaking to The West Australian aboard the Royal Australian Air Force jet dubbed “Shark One” on his return to Australia, Mr Morrison touched on topics spanning the Federal election, China relations and climate change. Mr Morrison this week squashed speculation he would call an early election this year, but told The West that when an election was held he would stand up for the people of WA. “The choice in WA is not between Mark McGowan and myself,” he said. “Mark McGowan remains Premier regardless of the outcome of the Federal election. They’ve already voted for Mark McGowan. The Federal election is whether or not they want Anthony Albanese or myself so I don’t see Mark McGowan as a political opponent I see him as a Premier who I work with and we work together.” Mr Morrison said States like NSW and Victoria had a “readiness” for opening up that States like WA did not. “In those States where there is no COVID I understand the reticence and I don’t believe it’s just by the Premier, I believe that in the community, too, there is reticence about well ‘we haven’t got it yet and I can do all these things now but if we do get it we won’t be able to’ and I understand that but at some point people will want to see their families again,” he said. “People will want to go to Bali again, people will want to go to Singapore. There will be real labour force constraints which will constrain the West Australian economy. There will be real challenges. I can understand and appreciate the approach that has been taken in WA and it can work for some time but it can’t work forever. And I’ve often said if not at 80 per cent, then when?” Preselection civil war Mr Morrison said he would be sad to see member for Stirling Vince Connelly leave politics after he lost a preselection battle against Ian Goodenough for Moore. “He has brought a lot of experience particularly with his defence background and as a veteran he’s been critical for us working through a lot of veterans’ policy issues. He does a lot of great work in his own community on veterans,” Mr Morrison said. “So I’ll very much miss that and he is a really good community-based politician ... but you know he’s a young man with a lot of ability.” Mr Morrison said Mr Connelly would be a good asset if he ran for another seat in WA. It was understood Mr Morrison asked Mr Connelly to run in Cowan before he put his hand up in Moore. “I think Vince is a great member of Parliament. I wish there was a way he could continue but that really is a matter for him and his family and he needs to think about what he is going to do,” Mr Morrison said. “Between now and the next election I have no doubt he is going to be passionate and a high contributing member of the team.” China On the back of the historic Quad leaders meeting at the White House, Mr Morrison said the talks were not a rebuke to Beijing. And he said it was not a binary choice between China and the US. “None of the countries in the Indo-Pacific want to be placed into binary choices and the US certainly doesn’t seek to do that with Australia or any other country in the region,” he said. He said the invitation to talk to Chinese President Xi Jinping was always open. “China have made it very clear that they have no interest in any political or ministerial dialogue with Australia so our door is open there are no issues on our side,” he said. “There is not a requirement for Australia to be constantly reinforcing this. They are very aware that we are available to talk anytime they like ... but the political level dialogue hasn’t occurred for some time and that’s not because of any lack of interest or invitation by Australia.” Nuclear Mr Morrison said despite the Quad endorsing nuclear-powered clean hydrogen, there were no plans to change the moratorium on nuclear energy. “Labor has made it clear they are not interested in changing their view on the moratorium. They have locked that box and they’ve made it clear it’s not opening so it stays locked by their decision,” he said. “We’ve got plenty to go on with and that debate I think will potentially create more divisions when I am trying to bring people together on our technology plan for low emissions. I’m trying to bring the Government together on that and am having a lot of success on that hand and I’m trying to bring the country together and say we’re just getting on with it. This issue has been around for a long time in Australia and I think this is an opportunity to bring everyone together and say let’s just get on with it.”