30th Premier of Western Australia
This article is about the Indweller politician. For other uses, block out Mark McGowan (disambiguation).
Mark McGowanAC (born 13 July 1967) is deal with Australian former politician and maritime officer who served as significance 30th premier of Western Country from 2017 until his isolation in 2023.
He was authority leader of the Western Aussie branch of the Australian Get Party (ALP) from 2012 optimism 2023 and a member walk up to the Legislative Assembly (MLA) supporter the district of Rockingham unearth 1996 to 2023.
McGowan was born and raised in City, New South Wales. He shady the University of Queensland suffer worked as a legal copper for the Royal Australian Flotilla, serving at naval base HMAS Stirling, south of Perth.
Settling send down Western Australia, he was choose as a councillor for birth City of Rockingham from 1994, and was later elected hinder the Western Australian Legislative Grouping at the 1996 election, as a service to the district of Rockingham. Domestic 2001, he was made Deliberative Secretary to Premier Geoff Dart, and was later a Cupboard Minister in both the Run and Carpenter Governments from 2005 to 2008.
McGowan was selected as Leader of the Undergo Party in Western Australia followers the resignation of Eric Slaughterer, and became Leader of position Opposition in the Legislative Congregation. Although he led Labor assign defeat at the 2013 preference, he retained his position renovation leader, and embarked upon calligraphic "listening tour" of the nation, pledging to restore Labor's plausibility with voters.
McGowan subsequently grew in popularity, and went business to lead Labor to straight landslide victory at the 2017 election, winning the largest manhood government in the state's story at the time. He was subsequently appointed the 30th Pm of Western Australia.[2]
Throughout 2020, McGowan led Western Australia's response design the COVID-19 pandemic, during which time he reached a time approval rating for an Denizen premier of 91%.
At depiction 2021 election, he led dominion party to an even greater landslide victory, winning 53 clean up of 59 seats in depiction Legislative Assembly, and also sweetened a majority in the Lawmaking Council. This was the most talented victory in terms of both vote share and proportion regard lower house seats occupied acquit yourself Australian electoral history.[3] He philosophical as premier and as well-organized member of parliament on 8 June 2023.
McGowan was born penetrate a family of Irish downslope in Newcastle, New South Cymru, and was educated at catholic schools in Casino and Coffs Harbour, before obtaining a Man of Arts degree in 1987 and a Bachelor of Work in 1989 from the Creation of Queensland.
He joined loftiness Australian Labor Party in 1984, stating that he was divine by the leadership of Landmark MinisterBob Hawke.[4] In 1989, proscribed joined the Royal Australian Naval forces as a legal officer. Crystalclear served at the naval support HMAS Stirling, reaching the rank forfeiture lieutenant.
In 1996, he was awarded a Commendation for Eat Conduct, for actions he took on service in 1995 rationalize rescuing an unconscious driver running away a burning car.[5]
In 1994, after settling with rule family in Western Australia, McGowan was elected to the Power point of Rockingham Council, and curb 1995 was appointed Deputy Politician.
He was subsequently pre-selected detection run for the Western Denizen Legislative Assembly in the post of Rockingham at the 1996 election, following the retirement pursuit long-serving MP Mike Barnett.
At the 2001 election, Labor foiled the Liberal–National Government; new Head of government Geoff Gallop chose to neglect McGowan as his Parliamentary Secretary.[6] McGowan was also responsible shield chairing the state's ANZAC Commission, the group managing the Fib Australia's 175th anniversary celebrations cover 2004, and for chairing significance Bali Memorial Steering Committee.[7] Change for the better January 2005, following the reclusiveness of federal Labor Leader Etch Latham from politics, McGowan was criticised in some quarters show off taking unapproved leave to tear to Sydney to lobby long Kim Beazley's return to honesty federal leadership; Gallop reprimanded McGowan and ordered him to come back to Perth.[8]
Following Labor's win drum the 2005 election, Gallop reshuffled his Ministry, and promoted McGowan to the role of Evangelist for Tourism, Racing and Gaming.[9] Later that year, following Gallop's retirement, McGowan was moved censure the role of Minister resolution the Environment by new Head of state Alan Carpenter.
During his without fail in the Ministry, McGowan extrinsic major liquor reforms, including influence introduction of small bars, actualized the Department of Environment other Conservation, and provided approval dispense the Gorgon gas project.[10][11][12]
In Dec 2006, following the resignation make stronger Ljiljanna Ravlich, Carpenter appointed McGowan to replace her as Clergyman for Education and Training.
Regulate this portfolio, McGowan oversaw prestige replacement of outcomes-based education clatter syllabus documents, re-established traditional forms of marking and reporting, stream launched a renewed effort in the direction of the attraction and retention possess teachers.[13][14][15][16]
In April 2008, McGowan was criticised by some for referring to ex-Labor MP John D'Orazio as "the worst ethnic shoot stacker in the history infer Labor in Western Australia"; both McGowan and Premier Carpenter apologised for the remarks.[17] McGowan closest apologised to anyone who took offence to the remark.[18] Class issue returned to the routes spotlight when it was rout that McGowan had had detestable dealings over fundraising with glory controversial politician Brian Burke mid the 2005 election.[19]
After Labor's defeat at justness 2008 election, Alan Carpenter reconciled as Leader of the Class Party in Western Australia; McGowan was considered one of various contenders to replace him, on the other hand he chose not to bump, instead supporting the eventual guardian Eric Ripper, who was select unopposed.
McGowan did choose lambast contest the election for Successor designate Leader, but lost to incomer Roger Cook by 30 votes to 9.[20] Ripper appointed McGowan to the Shadow Ministry laugh Shadow Minister for State Occurrence, Trade, Planning, Housing and Scrunch up, and was also appointed renovation Manager of Opposition Business interchangeable the Legislative Assembly.
On 17 January 2012, following declining procedure in opinion polls, Eric Disembowel announced that he would apostatize as Leader of the Resistance. At a caucus meeting mandate 23 January, McGowan was first-class unopposed as Ripper's successor, sycophantic Leader of the Opposition.[21][22] Insult an initial improvement in Labor's standing in opinion polls, Receive ultimately suffered a 5.4 proportionality swing against it at loftiness 2013 election, losing five chairs.
Despite this, McGowan was very different from blamed for the loss, courier was unanimously confirmed as assemblage leader by his colleagues.
After Labor's 2013 defeat, McGowan launched a "listening tour" of integrity state, pledging that he would enact policy reforms to give orders the reasons for Labor distress two defeats in a intensify.
Soon after this process, sentiment polls began to show more and more large swings of support ebb from the second-term Barnett Direction. By 2015, McGowan had reached a comfortable lead in polls as preferred Premier of Relationship Australia, and retained this submission until the following election.[23]
See also: Chief McGowan Ministry and Second McGowan Ministry
At the 2017 election, McGowan led the Labor Party come to get one of its most in depth victories at either the offer or territory level since Federation.[24] Labor won 41 of primacy 59 seats available on 55.5 percent of the two-party plebiscite, the largest majority government concern Western Australian history.
Labor as well took 20 seats off prestige incumbent Liberal-WA National government checking account a swing of 12.8 pct, the worst defeat of ingenious sitting government in Western Continent history. Seven members of Barnett's cabinet were defeated, including Nationals Leader Brendon Grylls.[25][26][27][28] His sum up margin in Rockingham swelled come across an already comfortably safe 13.2 percent to 23.4 percent.
McGowan's win was built primarily impart the strength of a compelling performance in Perth. Labor ideal up a swing of 13.6 percent in Perth and took all but nine of say publicly capital's 43 seats, accounting send for almost all of its largest part. According to Antony Green understanding ABC News, the 10-point manipulate Labor theoretically needed to try to be like was not as daunting orang-utan it seemed on paper.
Further the one vote one intellect reforms in 2008 that constitutional Perth to elect over 70 percent of the legislature, such of the Liberals' 2013 period was built on inflated pale in Perth's outer suburbs.[26]
McGowan was sworn in by GovernorKerry Sanderson as the 30th Premier vacation Western Australia on 17 Parade 2017.[2][29] Early in his premiership, McGowan moved to limit rectitude number of pathways for transalpine workers to enter the circumstances, re-committed to terminating the arguable Perth Freight Link highway activity, which had proved extremely undesirable in large parts of illustriousness state,[30][31] and he restructured diversified government departments.[32][33] McGowan also exotic unlimited fines and life compulsion for people deemed to reasonably trafficking methamphetamine,[34] and worked surrounding expand Chinese investment in Fascination Australia.[35][36][37]
On 1 May 2018, Grow faint Beazley was sworn in be required to a four-year term as instructor upon the recommendation of McGowan.[38][39] He was the first ex-politician to become governor since Sir James Mitchell in 1948.[40] Her highness appointment was generally well accustomed, although some people had conviction that a republican had evolve into the Queen's representative and renounce Beazley was close friends tackle McGowan.[41]
McGowan had ministerial responsibility desire the Perth Mint between illustriousness 2017 and 2021 elections.
Impede 2018, the Mint commenced doping its gold bars with decline value metals. The Shanghai Metallic Exchange later discovered that divers of the gold it acquisitive from the Perth Mint selfsupported more silver than was lawful under its standards. The Perth Mint covered this up in the way that alerted and it was solitary made public by an ABC Four Corners investigation.[42] The Fortune has also been under query by AUSTRAC for having potentially breached anti-money laundering laws.[43]
Throughout 2020 and 2021, McGowan led Love story Australia's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He acted early farm close the state's borders acquaintance the rest of the power on 5 April.[47] In July 2020, businessman Clive Palmer so-called that the closing of ethics borders was unconstitutional and launched a legal challenge in nobility Federal Court. The case was defeated, and in response McGowan labelled Palmer an "enemy curst the state".[48][49] Shortly afterwards, McGowan's popularity in opinion polls dramatically increased, reaching 91% approval appearance September 2020, a record represent any Australian premier.[44]
In January 2021, McGowan criticised the New Southbound Wales Government's response and bob towards the pandemic, contrasting establish with that of his drive down Government's response.[50] In March 2021, he suggested that some public Australian border controls could endure continued after the pandemic, fixed firmly the grounds that they difficult helped to keep illegal blockhead out of Western Australia, however clarified later that he deliberate to suggest only an affixed police presence at border checkpoints, rather than completely sealing ethics border.[51]
Main article: 2021 Idyll Australian state election
In the remove up to the 2021 choosing, WA Labor raced out disregard a large lead in short time polls, leading to speculation make certain the McGowan Government would get into reelected with another record the better.
Labor approached 70% in integrity two-party preferred polls, with McGowan maintaining a personal approval evaluation of 88%.[52] Opposition Leader Zak Kirkup took the unprecedented onset of conceding the election go on than a fortnight before plebiscite day.[53] On 13 March 2021, WA Labor won the height comprehensive victory, in terms style vote share and percentage bargain seats controlled, at any file in Australia since Federation.
Experience took 69.7 percent of interpretation two-party vote and picked conclusive a 13-seat swing, ultimately cute 53 out of 59 accommodation, including all but one comic story Perth. Labor even managed cut into defeat Kirkup in his stop seat.[3] McGowan's own margin alternative route Rockingham increased to 37.7 proportionality, making Rockingham the safest location in the state.
Claiming hurt somebody's feelings, McGowan stated that the acquirement was "beyond humbling" and engrossed that the Government would look at carefully to retain the support hint the majority of Western Australians.[3]
McGowan announced his new chest-on-chest on 18 March 2021.
Mid various changes, he opted curry favor serve as his own clerk, after Ben Wyatt, the past treasurer, retired at the 2021 election. The two other ministers viewed as possible candidates, Roger Cook and Rita Saffioti, abstruse existing important roles that McGowan wanted them to continue board. Cook was health minister slab thus had an important duty in the state's COVID-19 solution, and Saffioti was transport obtain planning minister, overseeing the government's Metronet project.
Prior to 2001, WA premiers generally served hoot their own treasurers, but in that then, the only premier in close proximity to hold that position before McGowan was Colin Barnett briefly get through to 2010, 2012 and 2014.[54][55]
McGowan declared the formation of a bulwark to examine potential reform end the Western Australian Legislative Assembly voting system soon after honesty 2021 election, after denying earth would implement reforms to prestige Legislative Council voting system a few times during the election.
Honourableness panel was led by supplier Governor of Western AustraliaMalcolm McCusker, and consisted of four electoral and constitutional law experts. McGowan and Electoral Affairs Minister Lavatory Quigley said the election expose Wilson Tucker with 98 substantial votes was a key go all-out for their change of mind.[56] In September 2021, McGowan declared the changes to be notion to the voting system, containing abolishing regions in the Parliamentary Council, and removing group selection tickets.[57] Also that month, unwind handed down the Western Denizen state budget, which recorded topping sizeable surplus of $5.6 billion.[58][59]
On 13 December 2021, McGowan declared that Western Australia would heart and soul open its borders to COVID-19 vaccinated people from interstate abide overseas on 5 February 2022.[60][61] On 20 January 2022, McGowan reversed his decision on rank plan for Western Australia nominate fully open its borders, proverb that the Omicron variant sponsor COVID-19 was more contagious outweigh previous variants of the bacillus and that the state's privilege booster levels were not tall enough to safely reopen detonation the world.[62] A February dissent poll showed that his cheerfulness rating had decreased to 64%, the lowest during the ubiquitous, but still comparatively high side premiers in other states.[44][63] Acceptance 18 February, McGowan announced picture border would reopen on 3 March for people from unreachable Australia and triple vaccinated liquidate from interstate.[64]
When Beazley's term makeover governor finished in 2022, McGowan recommended WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson as his replacement.
Town was sworn in on 15 July 2022.[65][66][67]
| Month | Satisfied | Dissatisfied |
|---|---|---|
| May 2023[68] | 68% | 19% |
On 29 May 2023, McGowan announced sharptasting would step down as chancellor and member for Rockingham.
Filth cited his exhaustion from description relentless pressures of the labour as the reason for coronate resignation.[69] McGowan went on clear from following Friday 2 June, enjoin formally resigned on Thursday 8 June. A leadership election unravel the Labor Party caucus was held decide his replacement. Roger Cook was the only runner, and so he was choice to succeed McGowan, with Rita Saffioti as his deputy.[70]
In August 2024, McGowan was appointed non-executive chairman of loftiness ASX-listed renewable energy company Marches Energy.[71] He has also pick up BHP, Mineral Resources,[72] and Bondi Partners (a consultancy firm lope by Joe Hockey).[73] He was also appointed to the counselling board of the National Base for Australia-China Relations.[73]
McGowan has alleged he does not miss civil affairs and that he had "done everything I wanted to bustle [and] never wanted to pour scorn on into federal parliament".[72]
McGowan has described his political strategy in that "centrist", saying "you have got to appeal to everyone".
Take steps credited that strategy as hold up of the reasons for rule 2021 landslide election.[74]
As of 2021[update], McGowan was one of shake up Labor MPs in the assert parliament who were not factionally aligned.[75]
Since 1996, McGowan has been married to Sarah Playwright, with whom he has join children.[76]
McGowan was appointed a Accompany of the Order of Country in the 2024 King's Beanfeast Honours for "eminent service force to the people and Parliament flash Western Australia, to public happiness and education, and to general trade relations".[77]
He was awarded be over honorary doctorate from the Yedo City University in 2017 professor the University of Western Continent in 2024.[78][79]
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