WA Labor State Conference: Anthony Albanese praises Mark McGowan as he seeks westward route to The Lodge

Federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese has firmly hitched his wagon to wildly popular WA Premier Mark McGowan as he looks to the west to deliver him the keys to The Lodge. In a pre-recorded speech played during WA Labor’s State Conference this morning Mr Albanese launched a charm offensive that left little doubt about how important he views WA to his electoral prospects. “With the world turned upside down, the Eastern States now look west to be reassured that the sun will rise again,” Mr Albanese began. “And just as WA has been a bright light in our Federation, WA Labor is a shining jewel in our movement.” The flattery did not end there, with Mr Albanese declaring “what Australia needs is the WA spirit in Canberra” and ending his pitch by positioning his potential government as a “the partner WA needs in Canberra”. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been at pains to highlight the choice facing voters at the next Federal election — which must be held by May next year — is not between himself and Mr McGowan. By contrast, Mr Albanese appeared determined to leverage the sky-high pandemic approval ratings of the WA Premier. “(During COVID) we saw a remarkable and proven team led by a remarkable and proven Premier,” Mr Albanese said. “Mark McGowan is a leader who does things because they are right, not because they are popular. That’s leadership. “And that is exactly what a government I lead will bring back to the national stage. Real leadership. A government that stands with the West.” Federal Labor has circled the seats of Swan, Pearce and Hasluck as must-wins and the party’s candidate for each – Zaneta Mascarenhas, Tracey Roberts and Tania Lawrence – received a rev-up from Mr Albanese. The Federal Labor leader also took aim at incumbent Pearce MP Christian Porter, who resigned from the Morrison Government ministry over his use of a blind trust to fund defamation proceedings against the ABC and journalist Louise Milligan. “If this is allowed to stand, it will make completely redundant the basic provisions of declarations of interest, which are in place to stop corruption of our political system,’ he said, before renewing Labor’s pledge for a national anti-corruption commission. That was followed by a promise not to tinker with the WA’s hard-won GST deal. “On the question of the GST, I will listen to Premier McGowan, not Liberal treasurers in Eastern States,” Mr Albanese said. “I’ll repeat to you what I said to him: Federal Labor remains committed to giving WA your share of the GST.” Speaking after Mr Albanese’s speech, Labor’s Member for Perth Patrick Gorman acknowledged State border closures meant the impending Federal election campaign was likely to feature WA-based MPs playing larger roles than usual. Asked if that would extend to Mr McGowan, said he was “sure he’ll be out there”. “It is going to be very different, it's going to be a mixed mode, partly virtual campaign,” Mr Gorman said. “I think Mark is very complimentary of Anthony, Anthony is very complimentary of Mark. They have quite similar leadership styles many respects.” Mr McGowan said he would “do what I can as a loyal party member to assist” but his role would be determined by Federal Labor.