Scott Morrison has backflipped on his earlier criticism of the West Australian government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic as he seeks to appeal to WA voters.
The Prime Minister on Wednesday said he had “always respected WA’s unique situation” despite being a loud opponent of Premier Mark McGowan’s tough border closures over the past two years.
In a speech to the WA Chamber of Commerce, Mr Morrison said he and state and territory leaders had become “very conscious” of the “need for different pathways” through the pandemic.
“That was particularly true here in Western Australia and I’m sure Mark (McGowan) would agree, as he has acknowledged that there has been a different path here in WA which has been necessary,” he said.
The two leaders regularly traded barbs during the pandemic, including on one notable occasion where Mr Morrison appeared to liken WA residents to the cavemen in the animated children's film The Croods.
At one point, the Morrison government intervened in Clive Palmer’s high court challenge against the WA government’s border closure.
The commonwealth government was reported to have contributed almost $41,000 to the Queensland mining magnate’s legal costs before it ultimately withdrew from the case amid public pressure.
Mr Morrison first shifted his rhetoric earlier this year to indicate he supported Mr McGowan’s border closure, saying the Omicron variant was a “completely different virus”.
Mr Morrison on Wednesday said West Australians had “travelled a somewhat different path” to the rest of the country, especially to the eastern states.
“And throughout the pandemic, I’ve always acknowledged and respected Western Australia’s unique situation and the path that WA has taken. And I continue to,” he said.
Mr Morrison is in WA for the first time since the McGowan government fully opened the state’s borders to the rest of the country on March 3.
He used his early-morning speech and a later press conference to spruik his government’s economic management and national security credentials.
His pitch to WA voters included $250m for the critical minerals sector and grants for energy projects as the Coalition positions itself as the best choice for the mining industry.
“As the global economy changes there are exciting new growth opportunities emerging in new areas such as rare earths and critical minerals,” he said.
“I think the Greens think they’re things you put in the bath. They’re not.”
The Coalition was almost wiped out at the most recent WA state election last year. Mr McGowan’s incumbent Labor government returned to power in a landslide victory after winning 53 of 59 lower house seats.
Polling conducted for the West Australian newspaper shows Labor ahead in the key WA electorates of Hasluck, Pearce and Swan ahead of the upcoming federal election.
Ben Morton, a close ally of Mr Morrison, could be in danger of losing his formerly safe Liberaxjmtzywl seat of Tangney if the polling is an accurate reflection of community sentiment.
Separate polling, conducted internally by the Greens and reported by WA Today, suggests Labor could have its best outcome in the state since the 1980s.
The election is yet to be called, but it is due to be held by the end of May.
