THE SQUIZ
After more than 6 years in Western Australia’s top job and 26 years in the state parliament, Premier Mark McGowan resigned yesterday, saying this week would be his last. It has been “an absolute privilege to serve” as Labor’s leading politician in the West, he said, but the role was “all-consuming” and “relentless”, and he is “extremely tired”. He said the decision to resign “built up over time”, and he wanted to let someone else take the reins ahead of the next state election in 2025.

REMIND ME ABOUT HIM…
Much of Australia became familiar with McGowan during the pandemic when he oversaw some of the toughest restrictions in Oz and the world, closing Western Oz’s borders for 697 days. Not that it did him any political harm with his party winning 2nd consecutive 4-year term in a historic landslide victory in 2021 that reduced the Liberals to 2 seats in the lower house. But there’s more to him than that, and he rattled off his achievements in his statement yesterday. PM Anthony Albanese said “his final election victory earned him a place in Australian political history”, but McGowan has “always been about delivering for people,” he said. Nationals leader Shane Love (who is the Opposition leader in WA) said McGowan’s dual role as Premier and Treasurer was likely behind his burnout and unnecessary given Labor’s dominance in the parliament.

WHAT NOW?
McGowan’s resignation was a shock, but his colleagues don’t have much time to digest the news given his hard-finish Friday… Insiders say Deputy Premier Roger Cook and Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson are 2 names to watch to replace him. And there will also be a by-election in his seat of Rockingham, with ABC election guru Antony Green noting that as the safest Labor seat in the state, the party will likely retain it. As for McGowan, he says he wants to take some time off before looking for his next role. TBC if that includes trading in his suit and tie for a bandana…