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On the eve of his third decade in politics, Premier Mark McGowan has announced plans to step down as Western Australia’s 30th Premier.
During a major press conference at Dumas House in Perth on Monday, McGowan told a packed press room, with the Ministers of his government standing around him, he would also step down as the Member for Rockingham.
This week would be his final week in the Western Australian Parliament.
“I just don’t have the energy or drive that’s required to continue in the role as Premier, or fight that election which would have been my eighth election,” he said.
“After several elections across nearly three decades, now is the right time to step away from the job that I’ve loved.”
The formal naval officer made his foray into politics back in 1994, after being elected as a councillor for the City of Rockingham.
Two years later, he was elected to the seat of Rockingham and went on to become parliamentary secretary to Premier Geoff Gallop.
He served as a minister in both the Gallop and Carpenter Governments before rising to the role of Labor leader.
WA Premier Mark McGowan is ready for a new resources boom in critical mineralsCredit: Ross Swanborough
McGowan was appointed the 30th Premier of WA in 2017 in what was hailed WA Labor’s biggest ever victory.
But the much-vaunted win was dwarfed by WA Labor’s landslide win in 2021 which reduced the Liberals to just two seats in the Legislative Assembly and gave the party total control across both houses of parliament.
His popularity was bolstered by his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, with his tough stance and rapid border closure credited with safeguarding the state’s economy and mining sector.
More to come.
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